Employment Rights Act 1996

108 Qualifying period of employment. E+W+S

(1) Section 94 does not apply to the dismissal of an employee unless he has been continuously employed for a period of not less than [F1 one year] ending with the effective date of termination.

(2) If an employee is dismissed by reason of any such requirement or recommendation as is referred to in section 64(2), subsection (1) has effect in relation to that dismissal as if for the words [F2 “one year”] there were substituted the words “ one month ”.

(3) Subsection (1) does not apply if—

F3 (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F4 (aa) subsection (1) of section 98B (read with subsection (2) of that section) applies,]

[F5 (b) subsection (1) of section 99 (read with any regulations made under that section) applies,]

(c) subsection (1) of section 100 (read with subsections (2) and (3) of that section) applies,

(d) subsection (1) of section 101 (read with subsection (2) of that section) or subsection (3) of that section applies,

[F6 (dd) section 101A applies,]

(e) section 102 applies,

(f) section 103 applies,

[F7 (ff) section 103A applies,]

(g) subsection (1) of section 104 (read with subsections (2) and (3) of that section) applies, F8 . . .

[F9 (gg) subsection (1) of section 104A (read with subsection (2) of that section) applies, F10 . . .]

[F11 (gh) subsection (1) of section 104B (read with subsection (2) of that section) applies, F12 . . .]

[F13 (gi) section 104C applies,]

[F14 (gk) section 104E applies,]

[F15 (gl) subsection (1) of section 104F (read with subsection (2) of that section) applies,]

(h) section 105 applies,F16 [F17 . . .

(hh) paragraph (3) or (6) of regulation 28 of the Transnational Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations 1999 (read with paragraphs (4) and (7) of that regulation) applies,]F18 [F19 . . .

(i) paragraph (1) of regulation 7 of the Part-time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2000 applies,]

F20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F21 (j) paragraph (1) of regulation 6 of the Fixed-term Employees (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2002 applies,]

F22 [F23 . . .

(k) paragraph (3) or (6) of regulation 42 of the European Public Limited-Liability Company Regulations 2004 applies,]

F24 [F25 . . .

(l) paragraph (3) or (6) of regulation 30 of the Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations 2004 (read with paragraphs (4) and (7) of that regulation) applies,]F26 [F27 . . .

(m) paragraph 5(3) or (5) of the Schedule to the Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Consultation by Employers and Miscellaneous Amendment) Regulations 2006 (read with paragraph 5(6) of that Schedule) applies] [F28 ...][F29 , or

(n) F30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(o) paragraph (3) or (6) of regulation 31 of the European Cooperative Society (Involvement of Employees) Regulations 2006 (read with paragraphs (4) and (7) of that regulation) applies,

F31 [F32 . . .

(p) regulation 46 or 47 of the Companies (Cross-Border Mergers) Regulations 2007 appliesF33 . . . ]

[F34 (q) paragraph (1)(a) or (b) of regulation 29 of the European Public Limited-Liability Company (Employee Involvement) (Great Britain) Regulations 2009(S.I. 2009/2401) applies,[F35 or

(r) paragraph (1) of regulation 17 of the Agency Workers Regulations 2010 applies]]]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 108(1) substituted (1.6.1999) by S.I. 1999/1436, art. 3

F2 Words in s. 108(2) substituted (1.6.1999) by S.I. 1999/1436, art. 4

F3 S. 108(3)(a) repealed (15.12.1999) by 1999 c. 26, ss. 9, 44, Sch. 4 Pt. III para. 18, Sch. 9(2); S.I. 1999/2830, art. 2(2)(3), Sch. 1 Pt. II, Sch. 2 Pt. II (with Sch. 3 paras. 10, 11)

F4 S. 108(3)(aa) inserted (6.4.2005) by Employment Relations Act 2004 (c. 24), ss. 40(6), 59(2)-(4); S.I. 2005/872, arts. 4, 5, Sch. (subject to arts. 6-12)

F5 S. 108(3)(b) substituted (6.4.2005) by Employment Relations Act 2004 (c. 24), ss. 57(1), 59(2)-(4), Sch. 1 para. 32; S.I. 2005/872, arts. 4, 5, Sch. (subject to arts. 6-12)

F6 S. 108(3)(dd) inserted (1.10.1998) by S.I. 1998/1833, reg. 32(4)

F7 S. 108(3)(ff) inserted (2.7.1999) by 1998 c. 23, s. 7(1); S.I. 1999/1547, art. 2

F8 Word in s. 108(3)(g) repealed (1.11.1998) by 1998 c. 39, ss. 25(3), 53, Sch. 3; S.I. 1998/2574, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 3)

F9 S. 108(3)(gg) inserted (1.11.1998) by 1998 c. 39, s. 25(3); S.I. 1998/2574, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 3)

F10 Word in s. 108(3)(gg) repealed (5.10.1999) by 1999 c. 10, ss. 7, 19(4), 20(2), Sch. 3 para. 3(3), Sch. 6

F11 S. 108(3)(gh) inserted (5.10.1999) by 1999 c. 10, ss. 7, 20(2), Sch. 3 para. 3(3) (which amending Act was repealed (in part on 27.8.2002 and 4.12.2002, otherwise prosp.) by Tax Credits Act 2002 (c. 21), s. 60, Sch. 6; S.I. 2002/1727, art. 2) and insertion continued (1.9.2002 for certain purposes, otherwise prosp.) by Tax Credits Act 2002 (c. 21), s. 27, Sch. 1 para. 3(4); S.I. 2002/1727, art. 2

F12 Word in s. 108(3)(gh) omitted (15.1.2000) by virtue of S.I. 1999/3323, reg. 29(2)

F13 S. 108(3)(gi) inserted (6.4.2005) by Employment Relations Act 2004 (c. 24), ss. 41(5), 59(2)-(4); S.I. 2005/872, arts. 4, 5, Sch. (subject to arts. 6-12)

F14 S. 108(3)(gk) inserted "after paragraph (gj)" (6.4.2010 for certain purposes and otherwise prosp.) by Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 (c. 22), ss. 40, 269(4), Sch. 1 para. 4; S.I. 2010/303, art. 4, Sch. 3 (with arts. 8-14) (as amended by S.I. 2010/1151, art. 22)

F15 S. 108(3)(gl) inserted (2.3.2010) by The Employment Relations Act 1999 (Blacklists) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/493), reg. 12(4)

F16 Word at the end of s. 108(3)(h) omitted (1.7.2000) by virtue of S.I. 2000/1551, reg. 10, Sch. para. 2(2)

F17 S. 108(hh) and preceding word inserted (15.1.2000) by S.I. 1999/3323, reg. 29(2)

F18 Word in s. 108(3)(hh) omitted (1.10.2002) by virtue of The Fixed-term Employees (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/2034), reg. 11, Sch. 2 Pt. 1 para. 3(11) (with regs. 13-20 and subject to transitional provisions in Sch. 2 Pt. 2)

F19 S. 108(3)(i) and word "or" preceding it inserted (1.7.2000) by S.I. 2000/1551, reg. 10, Sch. para. 2(2)

F20 Word in s. 108(3)(i) repealed (8.10.2004) by The European Public Limited-Liability Company Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/2326), regs. 1(2), 43(2)(a)

F21 S. 108(3)(j) and preceding word inserted (1.10.2002) by The Fixed-term Employees (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/2034), reg. 11, Sch. 2 Pt. 1 para. 3(11) (with regs. 13-20 and subject to transitional provisions in Sch. 2 Pt. 2)

F22 Word in s. 108(3)(j) repealed (6.4.2005) by The Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/3426), regs. 1(1), 31(2)(a) (with reg. 3)

F23 S. 108(3)(k) and the preceding word "or" inserted (8.10.2004) by The European Public Limited-Liability Company Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/2326), regs. 1(2), 43(2)(b)

F24 Word in s. 108(3)(k) omitted (6.4.2006) by virtue of The Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Consultation by Employers and Miscellaneous Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/349), regs. 1(3), 17, Sch. para. 6(2)(a)

F25 S. 108(3)(l) and the preceding word "or" inserted (6.4.2005) by The Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/3426), regs. 1(1), 31(2)(b) (with reg. 3)

F26 Word in s. 108(3)(I) omitted (1.10.2006) by virtue of The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1031), reg. 49(1), Sch. 8 para. 24(a) (with regs. 44-46)

F27 S. 108(3)(m) and word inserted (6.4.2006) by The Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Consultation by Employers and Miscellaneous Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/349), regs. 1(3), 17, Sch. para. 6(2)(b)

F28 By virtue of The European Cooperative Society (Involvement of Emplees) Regulation Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/2059), reg. 32(2)(a) it is provided that the word "or" at the end of s. 108(3)(m) is omitted (18.8.2006)

F29 S. 108(3)(n) and word inserted (1.10.2006) by The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1031), reg. 49(1), Sch. 8 para. 24(b) (with regs. 44-46)

F30 S. 108(3)(n) omitted (6.4.2011) by virtue of The Employment Equality (Repeal of Retirement Age Provisions) Regulations 2011(S.I. 2011/1069), {reg. 3(5)} (with regs. 5, 6, 9)

F31 S. 108: word immediately preceding para. 3(p) omitted (1.10.2009) by virtue of The European Public Limited-Liability Company (Employee Involvement) (Great Britain) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/2401), reg. 30(3) (with reg. 41)

F32 S. 108(3)(p) and word inserted (15.12.2007) by The Companies (Cross-Border Mergers) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/2974), reg. 48(2)(b)

F33 Word at the end of s. 108(3)(p) omitted (1.10.2011) by virtue of The Agency Workers Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/93), reg. 25, Sch. 2 para. 16 (as amended by S.I. 2011/1941, reg. 2(5)(a))

F34 S. 108(3)(q) and preceding word inserted (1.10.2009) by The European Public Limited-Liability Company (Employee Involvement) (Great Britain) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/2401), reg. 30(3) (with reg. 41)

F35 S. 108(3)(r) and preceding word inserted (1.10.2011) by The Agency Workers Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/93), reg. 25, Sch. 2 para. 16 (as amended by S.I. 2011/1941, reg. 2(5)(b)(c))

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 108 excluded (4.9.2000) by 1999 c. 26, s. 12(4), (with ss. 14, 15); S.I. 2000/2242, art. 2

S. 108 excluded (6.6.2000) by 1992 c. 52, s. 70A, Sch. A1 para. 164 (as inserted (6.6.2000) by 1999 c. 26, ss. 1, 45(1), Sch. 1; S.I. 2000/1338, art. 2(a))

C2 S. 108 excluded (6.4.2010) by The Employee Study and Training (Procedural Requirements) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/155), reg. 18(4)

C3 S. 108(1) excluded by 1992 c. 52, s. 154 (as substituted (6.4.2005) by Employment Relations Act 2004 (c. 24), ss. 35, 59(2)-(4); S.I. 2005/872, arts. 4, 5, Sch. (subject to arts. 6-12))