Unfair Dismissal and Other Claims

Unfair Dismissals

Dismissals occur where:

• the employer terminates the contract;
• a limited-term contract ends and isn’t renewed;
• the employee resigns because of the employer’s actions

A dismissal is fair or unfair depending on the reason for dismissal and whether the employer acts reasonably during the dismissal process.

Constructive dismissal

Constructive dismissal occurs where an employee resigns because the employer has substantially breached their employment contract. Examples could include: If you believe you may have been dismissed unfairly by an employer, then contact our expert team today to find out how we can help you.

• cutting a worker’s wages without agreement;
• unlawfully demoting them;
• allowing colleagues to harass, bully, humiliate or discriminate against them;
• unfairly increasing their workload;
• changing the location of their workplace at short notice;
• making them work in dangerous conditions.

The breach of contract can result from either a single serious event or the last in a series of less serious events. Consequently the individual may claim constructive, unfair dismissal at an employment tribunal.

Wrongful dismissal

Wrongful dismissal is where a contractual term is broken in the dismissal process, e.g. dismissal without giving proper notice. In cases of gross misconduct – such as fighting or theft – employers may dismiss without giving any notice.

Eligibility to complain to a tribunal

Employees can usually claim unfair dismissal only if they have worked for the employer at least two years. However, a number of dismissals require no minimum period of employment – and are also automatically unfair, i.e. the tribunal will find that they are unfair even if the employer followed a correct dismissal procedure.

Automatically unfair reasons for dismissals

The tribunal will hold the dismissal of an employee to be unfair if they are dismissed or selected for redundancy due to:

• Pregnancy and childbirth or parental leave
• Health & safety reasons
• Whistle blowing
• Victimisation
• Acting as a representative
• Seeking flexible working
• Jury service
• Taking part in protected industrial action

Penalties for Unfair dismissals

If an employment tribunal finds that an employee has been unfairly dismissed, it may order the employer to reinstate or re-engage them. More commonly, a tribunal will award compensation, made up of a basic award which depends on the employee’s age, gross weekly pay and length of service, and a compensatory award.

Reasons for fair dismissals

The Employment Rights Act sets out 6 potentially fair reasons that an employer may lawfully use to dismiss an employee. These are:

• Capability, includes poor performance and ill health
• Conduct
• Retirement
• Illegality
• Redundancy
• Some other substantial reason (SOSR)

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