Website Cookie Policy

We use cookies to give you the best possible online experience. If you continue, we’ll assume you are happy for your web browser to receive all cookies from our website.
See our cookie policy for more information.

Practice Areas

More Information

thepartners@wrigleys.co.uk

Leeds: 0113 244 6100

Sheffield: 0114 267 5588

FOLLOW WRIGLEYS:

Send us an enquiry
Close

Dismissing staff with less than two years' service: what are the risks?

01 April 2016

What should be considered before dismissing school staff who have been employed for less than two years?

Employers within the independent education sector will be well aware that employees have the right not to be unfairly dismissed if they have two years' qualifying service. The rights of employees without two years' service, and the rights of workers may not be as well known. In this article, we consider the risks when dismissing a member of staff who has been employed at the school for less than two years.

Employees don't always need two years' service to bring an unfair dismissal claim

There are a number of circumstances in which an unfair dismissal claim can be brought by an employee without two years' service. Examples include dismissals related to family-related rights, "blowing the whistle", raising health and safety issues, trade union membership or exercising the right to be accompanied. The usual cap on compensation for unfair dismissal claims of one year's gross salary does not apply when an employee is found to have been dismissed for raising health and safety issues or for making a protected disclosure.

Might there be a discrimination claim?

Discrimination claims based on a protected characteristic such as sex, age or disability can be brought by employees, workers, job applicants and former staff regardless of length of service. Schools should be alert to the fact that compensation awards for such a claim are potentially unlimited.

Can you be sure an employee has less than two years' service?

It is not always obvious when an employee has accrued two years' service. Where there is a break in employment of at least "a week ending with a Saturday", this will normally be enough to break continuity of service. However, if there is a "temporary cessation of work" (for example where a teacher is not employed over the Summer holiday) continuity may not be broken. The Employment Appeal Tribunal has ruled that a one month gap between fixed term teaching contracts was not sufficient to break continuity of service for the purpose of an unfair dismissal claim.

All workers can bring claims if they have suffered a detriment under:

  • the Working Time Regulations;
  • the National Minimum Wage legislation;
  • the Fixed-term Workers Regulations;
  • the Part-time Workers Regulations; and
  • the family-related rights provisions in the Employment Rights Act

 

Schools should take a cautious approach to dismissal where claims may be brought by a member of staff. This would involve engaging in a proper procedure, including the right to be accompanied, consultation and a right of appeal. Ensure that union representatives are involved where relevant and keep a full paper trail of decisions and actions taken.

 

If you would like to discuss any aspect of this article further, please contact Alacoque Marvin on 0113 244 6100.

You can keep up to date by following Wrigleys Education team on Twitter here or sign up for details of Wrigleys events here

The information in this article is necessarily of a general nature. Specific advice should be sought for specific situations. If you have any queries or need any legal advice please feel free to contact Wrigleys Solicitors

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alacoque Marvin View Biography

Alacoque Marvin

Partner
Leeds

02 Dec 2024

How can community-led organisations get involved in the ownership of land for nature recovery?

We recently hosted an online event to look at this question. Here’s a summary of the event and some of the key takeaways….

28 Nov 2024

Work experience and employing children - what employers and schools need to know

A look at the overlapping laws, regulations and obligations around employing young people and children.

27 Nov 2024

What are the requirements for a smaller-scale redundancy consultation?

Court of Appeal clarifies smaller-scale redundancy consultation requirements.