Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Recruitment & retention
    • Wellbeing
    • Occupational Health
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Recruitment & retention
    • Wellbeing
    • Occupational Health
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise

Employment lawDepartment for Business and Trade (DBT)Latest NewsDismissalEconomics, government & business

Cable launches call for evidence on ‘onerous’ dismissal rules

by John Eccleston 15 Mar 2012
by John Eccleston 15 Mar 2012

The Government has today announced the publication of a call for evidence that could result in an overhaul of the dismissal process.

The Government is seeking to establish “whether current dismissal procedures are too onerous, too complex, and whether or not there is a lack of understanding in their application”.

In addition, ministers are also seeking employers’ views on the feasibility of the proposed compensated no-fault dismissal process for businesses with fewer than 10 employees. The idea was first put forward in a report on employment law reforms by venture capitalist Adrian Beecroft in 2011, and Chancellor George Osborne hinted at its introduction in a speech given to the manufacturers’ association EEF last week.

Under a compensated no-fault dismissal system, employers could dismiss a worker, where no fault had been identified on the part of the employee, by paying of a set amount of compensation.

Announcing the call for evidence, business secretary Vince Cable said: “We recognise that there is room for improvement which balances the needs of business while ensuring that the necessary employment protections are upheld.

“We are already implementing a radical package of reforms to the employment tribunal system and increasing the qualifying period for unfair dismissal from one to two years. These are all measures that will help improve the way businesses hire, manage and end a working relationship.

“But we also recognise that not all jobs work out for both parties – the staff member doesn’t quite fit or simply the relationship has irretrievably broken down. And, for micros in particular, who often don’t have legal or HR teams, the process to let a staff member go can be a daunting and complicated process.

“We want to give businesses the confidence to hire new staff and make sure when a dismissal needs to be made, they aren’t tied up in red tape. This is an effort to see how extensive the problem is and shed some light on the desire for a change to the rules.”

Today’s announcement was welcomed by CBI director-general John Cridland, who said: “This announcement is a step in the right direction, which will help reduce unemployment in the long term.

“Businesses tell us the current dismissal process needs to be reformed. Introducing compensated no-fault dismissal would give firms confidence to hire, as employer and employee can part ways with no fault on either side, and workers would have sufficient money to allow them time to find a new job.

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

“This reform would work for both parties and should be available to high-growth as well as small firms.”

For more information on today’s announcement, see XpertHR’s coverage.

John Eccleston

previous post
How can shared services provide better value?
next post
Six areas of change for learning and development: quick-fire links

You may also like

EHRC submits new code of practice to government

5 Sep 2025

Lloyds Banking Group to target underperformers for job...

5 Sep 2025

How to manage workplace investigations effectively

5 Sep 2025

Manager who called bosses ‘dickheads’ was unfairly dismissed

5 Sep 2025

Jaguar Land Rover staff sent home after cyber...

5 Sep 2025

Agency crackdown won’t cure NHS staffing crisis alone

5 Sep 2025

‘Terrible’ Employment Rights Bill returns to Commons

4 Sep 2025

Connect to Work scheme to benefit 15 areas...

4 Sep 2025

Sandie Peggie launches fresh legal action against NHS...

3 Sep 2025

How to stop flying blind with workforce planning

3 Sep 2025

  • Work smart – stay well: Avoid unnecessary pain with centred ergonomics SPONSORED | If you often notice...Read more
  • Elevate your L&D strategy at the World of Learning 2025 SPONSORED | This October...Read more
  • How to employ a global workforce from the UK (webinar) WEBINAR | With an unpredictable...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits Live
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Recruitment & retention
    • Wellbeing
    • Occupational Health
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise