Unfair dismissal: Strange cases in 2024 You might have heard the expression “the law is an ass”, sometimes used when the letter of the law seems to be contrary to common sense. Note that ‘ass’ is the English colloquial name for a donkey, because donkeys are notoriously stubborn. Not the American definition! According to PhraseFinder, …
I was sacked while I was off sick. Can I claim? If you’ve taken long or frequent periods of sick leave, and you are dismissed while you’re off work, you might wonder whether that’s legal or not. To answer that question, this article tells the story of Zoe Kitching who started work in 2018 as …
I have been off sick for 6 months. Can I be sacked? If you’ve been off sick for 6 months or more, all you probably want to do is to get well. You don’t need the additional worry of being sacked. This article looks at the legal position. Can you lose your job while on …
How to win an Employment Tribunal case If you want to make a claim against your employer because you’ve been badly treated at work, you’ll need to know how to win. We’ve gathered a collection of tips (below) to give you the best chance of success. Understand the process Going to an employment tribunal is …
Can I be dismissed for name calling? The short answer is yes, it’s possible. Employment law protects employees against unfair dismissal, but your employer has the right to dismiss you if you break the terms of your employment contract. That usually includes the need to treat your fellow employees with respect, and means you mustn’t …
How long do I have to submit a claim? Wondering how long you have to submit a claim? You should act quickly, because the time limits may be tighter than you think. The short answer is: “Usually within three months”. Read this article to discover the longer answer. First things first If you have a …
Can I retract my resignation? Imagine you’ve had a bad day at work so you spontaneously resign from your job. Later, you change your mind about leaving. Can you retract your resignation? The short answer is: “Sometimes”, but you have to act quickly. Also, it is likely that your employer will have to agree – …
Can I be sacked for social media posts? The answer is yes, if what you post brings the company into disrepute. You might wonder how this can happen. As you may know, we have offices in Belfast, Northern Ireland (as well as in Leeds, London and Newcastle, England). These two stories are linked and recently …
“Can I claim for whistleblowing discrimination?” The short answer is YES. This article gives a longer answer, plus details of a case where a Royal Mail employee was awarded over £2.3 million for exactly that. Let’s start by defining whistleblowing… What is whistleblowing? Whistleblowing means “disclosing wrongdoings in the public interest”. That might include reporting …
“I’ve lost my job after whistleblowing. Can I claim for unfair dismissal?” If something is being done illegally at work, we should not ‘turn a blind eye’, especially if it’s a health and safety matter, or something that’s damaging to the environment. You have a legal right to complain about such things. You should not …