Q&A: How much notice is an employee entitled to when they are dismissed?
Published on: 16/04/2026
Article Authors The main content of this article was provided by the following authors.
Madison Bowyer Associate in the Employment Law Group of Arthur Cox NI

Stay ahead of the curve with our exclusive Q&A series, brought to you by leading law firm, Arthur Cox, LLP, designed to answer your most pressing legal questions. These expert insights provide clear guidance to ensure your HR practices remain compliant and protect your organisation.  

This month's question:

How much notice is an employee entitled to when they are dismissed? 

An employer must give an employee whom they dismiss at least the notice outlined in their contract of employment or the statutory minimum notice period, whichever is longer. The statutory minimum notice period is outlined in Article 118 of The Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996. It provides the notice required to be given by an employer to terminate the

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Disclaimer The information in this article is provided as part of Legal Island's Employment Law Hub. We regret we are not able to respond to requests for specific legal or HR queries and recommend that professional advice is obtained before relying on information supplied anywhere within this article. This article is correct at 16/04/2026