Unfair Dismissal Solicitors Leeds

Need legal advice relating to an unfair dismissal/wrongful dismissal? Consilia Legal are expert Employment Law Solicitors in Leeds with excellent reviews. We offer a Free Initial Discussion to get initial advice on your situation, either as an employer or an employee and we will discuss the best way forward. Our employment law team in Leeds, led by Marie Walsh, Employment Law Director & Workplace Mediator. Marie and her team have outstanding reviews praising them for their competency, strong communication, professionalism and knowledge. Read some of the feedback previous employment law clients have left them on Google and Facebook.

Unfair Dismissal in the Covid-19 Pandemic

If you are an employee and have been affected by redundancy in the Covid-19 pandemic and need employment law advice or if you are a business that needs advice on redundancy, lay-offs and short-time working during the Coronavirus/Covid-19 pandemic/UK lockdown, please get in touch. We are here to help guide you through what is a challenging and uncertain time for both businesses and individuals. Please read our April 2020 Employment Law Updates for the April 2020 Employment Law updates.

Unfair Dismissal – The Basics

• Does the employee have the required length of service?
• Is there a fair reason for the dismissal?
• Was the dismissal fair and reasonable in all the circumstances?
• Is the claim in time?

To answer the above, since April 2012 an employee requires two years of service to commence a claim of this sort against his/her employer

There are 5 fair reasons upon which to base a dismissal in the Employment Rights Act.  These are;

1. Conduct
2. Capability
3. Redundancy
4. Illegality
5. Some Other Substantial Reason

In order to have acted reasonably in deciding to dismiss an employer must also show that it has acted in a fair and reasonable manner.  The Tribunal looks at this with reference to the substantial merits of the case and the size and resources of the employer.

So for example the Tribunal will look at whether a fair procedure was carried out.  In a conduct dismissal, this would mean perhaps a suspension, investigation of the issues, a disciplinary hearing, right to be accompanied at the hearing and an appeal.

Even if there is a fair reason to dismiss the dismissal may nevertheless be deemed unfair if procedural flaws can be demonstrated.

Reference should be made to the ACAS Code. Failure to comply with the Code could result in increased compensation up to 25%.

The burden of proof to demonstrate a fair dismissal is upon the employer. Employees have three months less one day from the termination of their employment to commence a claim for unfair dismissal.

Prior to claiming employees must now contact ACAS about Early Conciliation. Extensions can be granted in certain circumstances but this is rare.

Please get in touch today to discuss your situation around unfair dismissal or redundancy. Our Employment Law team are on-hand to help and advise.