Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978

Meaning of unfair dismissalE+W+S

55 Meaning of “dismissal”.E+W+S

(1)In this Part, except as respects a case to which section 56 applies, “dismissal” and “dismiss” shall be construed in accordance with the following provisions of this section.

(2)Subject to subsection (3), an employee shall be treated as dismissed by his employer if, but only if,—

(a)the contract under which he is employed by the employer is terminated by the employer, whether it is so terminated by notice or without notice, or

(b)where under that contract he is employed for a fixed term, that term expires without being renewed under the same contract, or

(c)the employee terminates that contract, with or without notice, in circumstances such that he is entitled to terminate it without notice by reason of the employer’s conduct.

(3)Where an employer gives notice to an employee to terminate his contract of employment and, at a time within the period of that notice, the employee gives notice to the employer to terminate the contract of employment on a date earlier than the date on which the employer’s notice is due to expire, the employee shall for the purposes of this Part be taken to be dismissed by his employer, and the reasons for this dismissal shall be taken to be the reasons for which the employer’s notice is given.

(4)In this Part “the effective date of termination”—

(a)in relation to an employee whose contract of employment is terminated by notice, whether given by his employer or by the employee, means the date on which that notice expires;

(b)in relation to an employee whose contract of employment is terminated without notice, means the date on which the termination takes effect; and

(c)in relation to an employee who is employed under a contract for a fixed term, where that term expires without being renewed under the same contract, means the date on which that term expires.

[F1(5)Where the contract of employment is terminated by the employer and the notice required by section 49 to be given by an employer would, if duly given on the material date, expire on a date later than the effective date of termination (as defined by subsection (4)) then, for the purposes of sections 53(2), 64(1)(a), 64A and 73(3) and paragraph 8(3) of Schedule 14, the later date shall be treated as the effective date of termination in relation to the dismissal.

(6)Where the contract of employment is terminated by the employee and—

(a)the material date does not fall during a period of notice given by the employer to terminate that contract; and

(b)had the contract been terminated not by the employee but by notice given on the material date by the employer, that notice would have been required by section 49 to expire on a date later than the effective date of termination (as defined by subsection (4)),

then, for the purposes of sections 64(1)(a), 64A and 73(3) and paragraph 8(3) of Schedule 14, the later date shall be treated as the effective date of termination in relation to the dismissal.

(7)“Material date” means—

(a)in subsection (5), the date when notice of termination was given by the employer or (where no notice was given) the date when the contract of employment was terminated by the employer; and

(b)in subsection (6), the date when notice of termination was given by the employee or (where no notice was given) the date when the contract of employment was terminated by the employee.]

56 Failure to permit woman to return to work after confinement treated as dismissal.E+W+S

Where an employee is entitled to return to work and has exercised her right to return in accordance with section 47 but is not permitted to return to work, then [F2subject to section 56A] she shall be treated for the purposes of this Part as if she had been employed until the notified day of return, and, if she would not otherwise be so treated, as having been continuously employed until that day, and as if she had been dismissed with effect from that day for the reason for which she was not permitted to return.

[F356A Exclusion of s. 56 in certain cases.E+W+S

(1)Section 56 shall not apply in relation to an employee if—

(a)immediately before her absence began the number of employees employed by her employer, added to the number employed by any associated employer of his, did not exceed five, and

(b)it is not reasonably practicable for the employer (who may be the same employer or a successor of his) to permit her to return to work in accordance with section 45(1), or for him or an associated employer to offer her employment under a contract of employment satisfying the conditions specified in subsection (3).

(2)Section 56 shall not apply in relation to an employee if—

(a)it is not reasonably practicable for a reason other than redundancy for the employer (who may be the same employer or a successor of his) to permit her to return to work in accordance with section 45(1), and

(b)he or an associated employer offers her employment under a contract of employment satisfying the conditions specified in subsection (3), and

(c)she accepts or unreasonably refuses that offer.

(3)the conditions referred to in subsections (1) and (2) are—

(a)that the work to be done under the contract is of a kind which is both suitable in relation to the employee and appropriate for her to do in the circumstances; and

(b)that the provisions of the contract as to the capacity and place in which she is to be employed and as to the other terms and conditions of her employment are not substantially less favourable to her than if she had returned to work in accordance with section 45(1).

(4)Where on complaint of unfair dismissal any question arises as to whether the operation of section 56 is excluded by subsection (1) or (2), it shall be for the employer to show that the provisions of that subsection were satisfied in relation to the complainant.]

57 General provisions relating to fairness of dismissal.E+W+S

(1)In determining for the purposes of this Part whether the dismissal of an employee was fair or unfair, it shall be for the employer to show—

(a)what was the reason (or, if there was more than one, the principal reason) for the dismissal, and

(b)that it was a reason falling within subsection (2) or some other substantial reason of a kind such as to justify the dismissal of an employee holding the position which that employee held.

(2)In subsection (1)(b) the reference to a reason falling within this subsection is a reference to a reason which—

(a)related to the capability or qualifications of the employee for performing work of the kind which he was employed by the employer to do, or

(b)related to the conduct of the employee, or

(c)was that the employee was redundant, or

(d)was that the employee could not continue to work in the position which he held without contravention (either on his part or on that of his employer) of a duty or restriction imposed by or under an enactment.

(3)Where the employer has fulfilled the requirements of subsection (1), then, subject to sections 58 to 62, the determination of the question whether the dismissal was fair or unfair, having regard to the reason shown by the employer, shall depend on whether [F4in the circumstances (including the size and administrative resources of the employer’s undertaking) the employer acted reasonably or unreasonably in treating it as a sufficient reason for dismissing the employee; and that question shall be determined in accordance with equity and the substantial merits of the case].

(4)In this section, in relation to an employee,—

(a)“capability” means capability assessed by reference to skill, aptitude, health or any other physical or mental quality;

(b)“qualifications” means any degree, diploma or other academic, technical or professional qualification relevant to the position which the employee held.

[F758 Dismissal relating to trade union membership. E+W+S

(1)F8the dismissal of an employee by an employer shall be regarded for the purposes of this Part as having been unfair if the reason for it (or, if more than one, the principal reason) was that the employee—

(a)was, or proposed to become, a member of an independent trade union, or

(b)had taken part, or proposed to take part, in the activities of an independent trade union at an appropriate time, or

(c)was not a member of any trade union, or of a particular trade union, or of one of a number of particular trade unions, or had refused or proposed to refuse to become or remain a member.

(2)In subsection (1) “an appropriate time”, in relation to an employee taking part in the activities of a trade union, means a time which either—

(a)is outside his working hours, or

(b)is a time within his working hours at which, in accordance with arrangements agreed with or consent given by his employer, it is permissible for him to take part in those activities;

and in this subsection “working hours”, in relation to an employee, means any time when, in accordance with his contract of employment, he is required to be at work.

(3)—(12)

F9(13)Where the reason, or one of the reasons, for the dismissal of an employee was—

(a)his refusal, or proposed refusal, to comply with a requirement (whether or not imposed by his contract of employment or in writing) that, in the event of his failure to become or his ceasing to remain a member of any trade union or of a particular trade union or of one of a number of particular trade unions, he must make one or more payments; or

(b)his objection, or proposed objection, (however expressed) to the operation of a provision (whether or not forming part of his contract of employment or in writing) under which, in the event mentioned in paragraph (a), his employer is entitled to deduct one or more sums from the remuneration payable to him in respect of his employment;

that reason shall be treated as falling within [F10subsection (1)(c).]

[F11(14)In this section references to being, becoming or ceasing to remain a member of a trade union shall include references to being, becoming or ceasing to remain a member of a particular branch or section of that union and to being, becoming or ceasing to remain a member of one of a number of particular branches or sections of that union, and references to taking part in the activities of a trade union shall be similarly construed.]]

F1258A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E+W+S

59 Dismissal on ground of redundancy.E+W+S

Where the reason or principal reason for the dismissal of an employee was that he was redundant, but it is shown that the circumstances constituting the redundancy applied equally to one or more other employees in the same undertaking who held positions similar to that held by him and who have not been dismissed by the employer, and either—

(a)that the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for which he was selected for dismissal was [F13one of those specified in section 58(1)]; or

(b)that he was selected for dismissal in contravention of a customary arrangement or agreed procedure relating to redundancy and there were no special reasons justifying a departure from that arrangement or procedure in his case,

then, for the purposes of this Part, the dismissal shall be regarded as unfair.

60 Dismissal on ground of pregnancy.E+W+S

(1)An employee shall be treated for the purposes of this Part as unfairly dismissed if the reason or principal reason for her dismissal is that she is pregnant or is any other reason connected with her pregnancy, except one of the following reasons—

(a)that at the effective date of termination she is or will have become, because of her pregnancy, incapable of adequately doing the work which she is employed to do;

(b)that, because of her pregnancy, she cannot or will not be able to continue after that date to do that work without contravention (either by her or her employer) of a duty or restriction imposed by or under any enactment.

(2)An employee shall be treated for the purposes of this Part as unfairly dismissed if her employer dismisses her for a reason mentioned in subsection (1)(a) or (b), but neither he nor any successor of his, where there is a suitable available vacancy, makes her an offer before or on the effective date of termination to engage her under a new contract of employment complying with subsection (3).

(3)The new contract of employment must—

(a)take effect immediately on the ending of employment under the previous contract, or, where that employment ends on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, on or before the next Monday after that Friday, Saturday or Sunday;

(b)be such that the work to be done under the contract is of a kind which is both suitable in relation to the employee and appropriate for her to do in the circumstances; and

(c)be such that the provision of the new contract as to the capacity and place in which she is to be employed and as to the other terms and conditions of her employment are not substantially less favourable to her than the corresponding provisions of the previous contract.

(4)On a complaint of unfair dismissal on the ground of failure to offer to engage an employee as mentioned in subsection (2), it shall be for the employer to show that he or a successor made an offer to engage her in compliance with subsections (2) and (3) or, as the case may be, that there was no suitable available vacancy for her.

(5)Section 55(3) shall not apply in a case where an employer gives notice to an employee to terminate her contract of employment for a reason mentioned in subsection (1)(a) or (b).

61 Dismissal of replacement.E+W+S

(1)Where an employer—

(a)on engaging an employee informs the employee in writing that his employment will be terminated on the return to work of another employee who is, or will be, absent wholly or partly because of pregnancy or confinement; and

(b)dismisses the first-mentioned employee in order to make it possible to give work to the other employee;

then, for the purposes of section 57(1)(b), but without prejudice to the application of section 57(3), the dismissal shall be regarded as having been for a substantial reason of a kind such as to justify the dismissal of an employee holding the position which that employee held.

(2)Where an employer—

(a)on engaging an employee informs the employee in writing that his employment will be terminated on the end of a suspension such as is referred to in section 19 of another employee; and

(b)dismisses the first-mentioned employee in order to make it possible to allow the other employee to resume his original work;

then, for the purposes of section 57(1)(b), but without prejudice to the application of section 57(3), the dismissal shall be regarded as having been for a substantial reason of a kind such as to justify the dismissal of an employee holding the position which that employee held.

62 Dismissal in connection with a lock-out, strike or other industrial action.E+W+S

(1)The provisions of this section shall have effect in relation to an employee [F18(the “complainant”)] who claims that he has been unfairly dismissed by his employer where at the date of dismissal—

(a)the employer was conducting or instituting a lock-out, or

(b)the [F19complainant] was taking part in a strike or other industrial action.

(2)In such a case an industrial tribunal shall not determine whether the dismissal was fair or unfair unless it is shown—

(a)that one or more relevant employees of the same employer have not been dismissed, or

[F20(b)that any such employee has, before the expiry of the period of three months beginning with that employee’s date of dismissal, been offered re-engagement and that the complainant has not been offered re-engagement.]

(3)Where it is shown that the condition referred to in paragraph (b) of subsection (2) is fulfilled, the provisions of sections 57 to 60 shall have effect as if in those sections for any reference to the reason or principal reason for which the [F19complainant] was dismissed there were substituted a reference to the reason or principal reason for which he has not been offered re-engagement.

(4)In this section—

(a)“date of dismissal” means—

(i)where the employee’s contract of employment was terminated by notice, the date on which the employer’s notice was given, and

(ii)in any other case, the effective date of termination;

(b)“relevant employees” means—

(i)in relation to a lock-out, employees who were directly interested in the F21[F22dispute] in contemplation or furtherance of which the lock-out occurred, and

[F23(ii)in relation to a strike or other industrial action, those employees at the establishment who were taking part in the action at the complainant’s date of dismissal;

“establishment”, in sub-paragraph (ii), meaning that establishment of the employer at or from which the complainant works; and]

(c)any reference to an offer of re-engagement is a reference to an offer (made either by the original employer or by a successor of that employer or an associated employer) to re-engage an employee, either in the job which he held immediately before the date of dismissal or in a different job which would be reasonably suitable in his case.

[F24(5)The provisions of this section do not apply to an employee who by virtue of section 62A below has no right to complain of unfair dismissal; but nothing in that section affects the question who are relevant employees in relation to an employee to whom the provisions of this section do apply.]

[F2562A Dismissal of those taking part in unofficial industrial action. E+W+S

(1)An employee has no right to complain of unfair dismissal if at the time of dismissal he was taking part in an unofficial strike or other unofficial industrial action.

(2)A strike or other industrial action is unofficial in relation to an employee unless—

(a)he is a member of a trade union and the action is authorised or endorsed by that union, or

(b)he is not a member of a trade union but there are among those taking part in the industrial action members of a trade union by which the action has been authorised or endorsed.

Provided that, a strike or other industrial action shall not be regarded as unofficial if none of those taking part in it are members of a trade union.

(3)The provisions of subsections (3) to (7) of section 15 of the Employment Act 1982 apply for the purpose of determining whether industrial action is to be taken to have been authorised or endorsed by a trade union.

(4)The question whether industrial action is to be so taken in any case shall be determined by reference to the facts as at the time of dismissal.

(5)In this section the “time of dismissal” means—

(a)where the employee’s contract of employment is terminated by notice, when the notice is given,

(b)where the employee’s contract of employment is terminated without notice, when the termination takes effect, and

(c)where the employee is employed under a contract for a fixed term which expires without being renewed under the same contract, when that term expires;

and a “working day” means any day which is not a Saturday or Sunday, Christmas Day, Good Friday or a bank holiday under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971.

(6)For the purposes of this section membership of a trade union for purposes unconnected with the employment in question shall be disregarded; but an employee who was a member of a trade union when he began to take part in industrial action shall continue to be treated as a member for the purpose of determining whether that action is unofficial in relation to him or another notwithstanding that he may in fact have ceased to be a member.]

63 Pressure on employer to dismiss unfairly.E+W+S

In determining, for the purposes of this Part any question as to the reason, or principal reason, for which an employee was dismissed or any question whether the reason or principal reason for which an employee was dismissed was a reason fulfilling the requirements of section 57(1)(b) or whether the employer acted reasonably in treating it as a sufficient reason for dismissing him,—

(a)no account shall be taken of any pressure which, by calling, organising, procuring or financing a strike or other industrial action, or threatening to do so, was exercised on the employer to dismiss the employee, and

(b)any such question shall be determined as if no such pressure had been exercised.