Being dismissed from your job is never going to be a pleasant experience. Neither is forgiving someone. However, being fired without good reason is against the law and is called unfair dismissal.
What is Unfair Dismissal?
Employers are entitled to dismiss members of staff if they can justify that the employee:
- Is not keeping up-to-date with essential changes, such as adapting to new computer systems
- Is not willing or able to work well with colleagues
- Has poor conduct, including disobedience, theft, bullying, violence, and poor timekeeping and attendance
- Has a long-term illness that prevents them from doing their job
A fair explained redundancy or a dismissal, necessary to comply with the law, is also permitted.
However, if the company’s formal disciplinary procedure isn’t followed before a dismissal occurs, then that dismissal could be unfair. Usually, the system includes several verbal warnings and a final written warning before a formal discharge occurs. The release should be the last port of call after all other avenues have been exhausted.
Employers should allow employees to improve and resolve problems, so even if you’ve been dismissed for a legitimate reason, you may have been denied unfairly if your employer didn’t allow this to happen.
Why Can Someone Claim Unfair Dismissal?
Employees who believe their employer hasn’t followed the correct disciplinary process could file an unfair dismissal claim. However, this isn’t the only time dismissal is considered unfair.
If you were dismissed for one of the following reasons, then it is instantly classed as automatically unfair:
- You were pregnant
- You were on maternity leave.
- You have joined a trade union or act as an employee representative.
- You acted as a whistle-blower.
- You raised concerns over a health and safety issue.
- You asserted your legal rights, such as your right to minimum wage.
These instances would be considered automatically unfair because they breach your statutory legal rights. If the case is classed as automatically unfair, the employer doesn’t have the right to defend their case at all.
What Can You Do About It?
As an employee, if both of the following apply, then you can appoint a solicitor to file a claim against your ex-employer:
- You were dismissed in the last three months.
- You had been working at the company for at least two years.
The only way an employment tribunal will overlook these requirements is if your claim is considered automatically unfair or involves one of the nine protected characteristics (age, race, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, disability, sex, marital status, pregnancy, and religion).
Your best bet is to appoint an employment law solicitor as soon as possible after you have been dismissed. They can then go through your case with you and represent you in the employment tribunal.
