Unfair dismissal
Employees have a right not to be unfairly dismissed from employment. Before dismissing an employee, employers need to make sure that they have a potentially fair reason.
The five potentially fair reasons for dismissal are: capability or qualifications; conduct; redundancy; where continued employment would contravene the law; and “some other substantial reason”.
Tube driver injured at work was unfairly dismissed
Lisa Stewart was accused by London Underground of dishonestly claiming she had been injured at work.
Employment lawyers: ‘tribunals effective and judges top of their game’
Lawyers describe the suggestion by The Times that employment judges are inexperienced as ‘idiotic’ and ‘insulting’.
Victim of NHS manager’s practical joke wins £10k pay out
An employment tribunal finds trust was breached after a manager played a practical joke on an employee who had just returned from sick leave.
Tesco manager sacked for restraining thief wins £43,000
A Tesco store manager fired for manhandling a shoplifter has been awarded £43,100 for unfair dismissal at the employment tribunal.
Postman wins unfair dismissal case over public urination
An employment judge found that the real reason behind the dismissal was the postman's union activities and poor relationship with his line manager.
Seven key employment law cases from 2020
From the leaking of personal data to homophobia and the gig economy, we highlight seven noteworthy cases from 2020 that employers should know about.
Gym employees win payout after ‘women can’t be managers’ comments
Two female gym employees who were subjected to derogatory comments about their sex share £15k payout.
Female executive wins £64,000 after being ‘frozen out’ by all-male board
A 59-year-old woman has won a £64,000 pay-out after she was dismissed, with the judge declaring that ageism is worse for women than men.
Researcher who raised driving time safety concern unfairly dismissed
A senior employee at a Christian charity was unfairly dismissed after he raised health and safety concerns about the time...
Lloyd’s underwriter loses constructive unfair dismissal case
An employee of a Lloyd’s of London underwriter who was bullied at work has won his case for constructive unfair...
Immigration officer wins £16k after ‘unfair’ probe into alleged racist slurs
Tribunal finds that Joel Gold, although dismissed on potentially fair grounds of gross misconduct, did not receive a fair hearing from the Home Office.
Adviser sacked by Dominic Cummings receives pay off
A former special adviser to the government has reportedly been given a five-figure pay off just weeks before her unfair...
Covid-19 whistleblowers ignored and dismissed by employers
Nearly half of employees with coronavirus concerns have had their queries ignored.
Age Concern exec undermined by trustees wins £26k in compensation
A former charity CEO has won more than £26,000 in compensation after being constructively dismissed from her role.
Gillian Smith...
‘I went to get a Covid-19 test and now I’ve lost my job’
Worker in France who didn't know he had Covid-19 despite taking a test was dismissed for serious misconduct.
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