Dismissing an employee respectfully

Regrettably, there are times when an employer needs to dismiss an employee. But mention-worthy is that there are correct and incorrect ways to dismiss; those that go about the process the inappropriate way will undoubtedly find themselves before an Employment Tribunal.

Indeed, mistakes can be costly with the typical award for unfair dismissal being £10,812 (Working Families, 2023). It therefore makes sense for employers to understand the law, what constitutes an unfair dismissal, and what a fair dismissal procedure actually looks like.

According to Alexandra Farmer, Head of Team and a solicitor at WorkNest, a fair dismissal procedure consists of two essential components: (i) having a valid reason to dismiss and (ii) acting reasonably under the circumstances.

The Employment Rights Act of 1996 outlines five potential justifications for dismissal.

Noteworthy is that simply having a reason alone isn't sufficient when dismissing; the employer must show that they have acted reasonably when acting.