The Employment Rights (Dispute Resolution) (Northern Ireland) Order 1998

Internal appeal procedures and unfair dismissal awards

14.  After Article 162 of the [1996 NI 16.] Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 there shall be inserted—

“Internal appeal procedures

162A.—(1) Where in a case in which an award of compensation for unfair dismissal falls to be made under Article 146(4) or 151(3)(a) the tribunal finds that—

(a)the employer provided a procedure for appealing against dismissal, and

(b)the complainant was, at the time of the dismissal or within a reasonable period afterwards, given written notice stating that the employer provided the procedure and including details of it, but

(c)the complainant did not appeal against the dismissal under the procedure (otherwise than because the employer prevented him from doing so),

the tribunal shall reduce the compensatory award included in the award of compensation for unfair dismissal by such amount (if any) as it considers just and equitable.

(2) Where in a case in which an award of compensation for unfair dismissal falls to be made under Article 146(4) or 151(3)(a) the tribunal finds that—

(a)the employer provided a procedure for appealing against dismissal, but

(b)the employer prevented the complainant from appealing against the dismissal under the procedure,

the award of compensation for unfair dismissal shall include a supplementary award of such amount (if any) as the tribunal considers just and equitable.

(3) In determining the amount of a reduction under paragraph (1) or a supplementary award under paragraph (2) the tribunal shall have regard to all the circumstances of the case, including in particular the chances that an appeal under the procedure provided by the employer would have been successful.

(4) The amount of such a reduction or supplementary award shall not exceed the amount of two weeks' pay.”.