The First 90 Days: Why Onboarding Just Got a Lot Riskier

📅 June 17, 2026 | 12pm GMT

From 1 January 2027, the qualifying period for unfair dismissal drops from two years to six months. For most employers, that changes what the first few months of employment really mean.


New starters will reach the point of legal protection far sooner than they do today. Anyone still employed at six months will be able to bring an ordinary unfair dismissal claim, and the cap on compensation is being removed at the same time. The first new hires affected are those who started in mid-2026 and are still in post in the new year.


That puts a great deal of weight on how you onboard, assess and manage people in their first 90 days.


In this webinar, we will explain what the new six-month rule means in practice, how to redesign your probation and onboarding process around it, and how to document performance fairly and legally from day one.



You will leave knowing exactly how to onboard new starters with confidence and protect your business before the rules change. Register now.

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What you’ll take away

  • What the new six-month rule actually means. How the change from two years to six months works, who it applies to, and why mid-2026 hires are the first affected.


  • A probation process built for the new timeline. How to structure probation periods and review points so suitability is fully assessed well before the six-month mark, with no statutory probation scheme to rely on.


  • A practical 90-day onboarding framework. What to cover, when to review, and how to record performance fairly and legally so your decisions stand up. Includes a 90-day onboarding template.
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Who this is for...

This webinar is designed for the people responsible for hiring and managing new starters inside a business, including:


  • SME business owners
  • Managing Directors
  • HR Managers
  • Line managers responsible for new hires

Your Speakers

Emma Browning

Managing Director | Meraki HR

Emma is a highly qualified and experienced HR Director, with a strong and proven pedigree in delivering results to the bottom line, fast. She continues to work with clients directly and particularly likes to work with growing businesses to help them develop the right people strategy that will enable their growth, and works with business leaders/people managers who want to improve their leadership skills.


Emma is also an engaging trainer and facilitator who will create and deliver workshops on a wide range of people management topics such as Recruitment, Coaching skills for the Manager, How to have Difficult Conversations as well as How to Conduct an Effective Appraisal.


Emma is a Fellow of the CIPD and has a Postgraduate and Masters Degree. Emma recently won the Woman Who Micro Business Award in 2019 and was a finalist in two categories for the 2019 B4 Business Awards, 50 People to watch in Oxfordshire and 50 business to watch in the Innovation category.

Any of you who know and have worked with Emma, will know the high standards she works to and you can expect nothing less of her team!

Kerry Bonfiglio-Bains

Founder | Appointments Personnel

Kerry Bonfiglio-Bains is the Founder and Leader of Appointments Personnel, a well-established recruitment agency supporting businesses across Staffordshire and Cheshire. With over 25 years in recruitment, Kerry has built a reputation for practical, people-first hiring solutions that actually work in the real world.


Specialising in Accountancy & Finance, Office Support, and Manufacturing recruitment, Kerry works closely with SMEs to understand what they really need from their hires, not just the job description, but the person who will thrive in their business. Her approach is highly consultative, grounded in long-term relationships, and focused on outcomes that support sustainable growth.


Alongside leading the business day to day, Kerry oversees and mentors her recruitment team, ensuring consistently high standards of service and candidate care. She is known for her ability to spot strong talent others might miss and for representing her clients’ businesses honestly and effectively in a competitive market.


She’s deeply passionate about recruitment, her clients, and the local business community. Outside of work, she’s also a mum of three and no stranger to keeping multiple plates spinning.