The Government is to adopt European law that will ban employers from sacking
staff by text message.
Trade and industry secretary, Patricia Hewitt, said the Government welcomed
a European directive on information and consultation, which requires companies
to share information with their workforce.
"As we implement the directive, we will stop the scandal of workers
hearing they have been sacked on the radio – or by text message," Hewitt
said.
The Accident Group, which was the UK’s largest personal injury claims firm,
sacked 2,400 staff by text message in May after the firm’s parent company was
placed in administration.
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The directive gives staff the right to be informed about the business’s
economic situation, and consulted about employment decisions that are likely to
lead to substantial changes in work organisation or contractual relations –
including redundancies and transfers.
