Employment Law: Unfair Dismissal - Employer Succeeded in Changing Terms of Employment -

Home
>
Careers, Jobs & Employment
>
Employment Law: Unfair Dismissal - Employer Succeeded in Changing Terms of Employment

Employment Law: Unfair Dismissal - Employer Succeeded in Changing Terms of Employment

Good News for Employers wishing to change the terms of employment of employees, however, employers must still take care.

In Scott & Co v Richardson [2005], the Dependant, Mr Richardson, who worked for a Scottish firm of debt collectors, refused to accept his new terms of employment which required him to visit defaulting debtors during the evenings. Mr Richardson agreed to work evenings but only if this would continue to attract overtime payments as had previously been the case. Scott & Co tried for seven months to persuade Mr Richardson to change his mind but he refused, finally issuing an ultimatum that his employer should either accept his position or dismiss him. They chose to dismiss him.

At first instance, Scott & Co claimed that the change in working conditions was required to bring the company into line with new market practices and to allow them to plan work more cheaply and effectively. Mr Richardson argued that Scott & Co had failed to prove that there were advantages to the new working arrangements and that the real reason for the changes was to save money in overtime payments.

Mr Richardson succeeded in his claim for unfair dismissal and the Employment Tribunal held that it did not appear that the imposition of the shift system was of such discernible advantage that the only reasonable thing to do was to terminate the employee's contract unless he would agree to the new arrangement.

On appeal the EAT overturned this decision and held that:-

A Tribunal should not 'second guess' an employer's business decision; A Tribunal should evaluate whether dismissal was due to the employer's reasonable belief that the contract changes had advantages; and The employer did not need to prove that those advantages objectively exist. This is good news for employers who can rely on the principle that the tribunal must respect their commercial decisions in assessing whether a fair reason for dismissal has been shown. However this must be tempered by another EAT decision in Forshaw and others v Archcraft Limited [2005], where the EAT relied on its own assessment that the clause in question was unreasonable and found that the dismissal was unfair. In Forshaw the EAT said that while the tribunal generally will not re-open the commercial decisions of an employer's management, however, a reason which is genuinely held but is trivial or unworthy or whimsical will mean that the dismissal is unfair.

Comment: Provided that care is taken, changes to employment terms which are supported by sound commercial reasons will be acceptable under the law. If you require further information contact us.

Email: enquiries@rtcoopers.com

© RT COOPERS, 2005. This Briefing Note does not provide a comprehensive or complete statement of the law relating to the issues discussed nor does it constitute legal advice. It is intended only to highlight general issues. Specialist legal advice should always be sought in relation to particular circumstances.

Employment solicitors, employment law, employment lawyers, employment law firm, redundancies, unfair dismissals, breach of contract, workplace disputes, TUPE Transfers, drafting employment contracts, grievance procedures, disciplinary procedures, maternity rights,discrimination, employment Disputes, suspensions, wrongful dismissal,equal pay, media copyright.

In The News:

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/business/12shifting.html%3Fref%3Dbusinesscid=1256638218ei=lUPzSLuJEajs6gOajsF9usg=AFQjCNEMiiA1qHwuBXVycTQz2dlqKYWdXgShifting bCareers/b In Hard Times, Lawyers Advise Cautious Steps/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fNew York Times,nbsp;United Statesnbsp;-/font nobrOct 11, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By MARCI ALBOHER AS the turmoil on Wall Street continued, I sat down with two bemployment/b lawyers â€” Zachary Hummel, who represents employers, and Mark Risk, b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.ajc.com/business/content/business/stories/2008/10/12/credit_crunch_self_employed.htmlcid=1256964400ei=lUPzSLuJEajs6gOajsF9usg=AFQjCNGEqrxeouZ2RAOddixu62utwlmY1AAtlanta coupleâ€™s self-bemployment/b hurts loan chances/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fAtlanta Journal Constitution,nbsp; USAnbsp;-/font nobr16 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By PAUL DONSKY Marsha Middleton and her husband, Willie, have good credit, money in the bank and successful bcareers/b. But the couple has struggled to find a b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.examiner.com/x-654-Baby-Boomer-Examiner~y2008m10d1-Byebye-to-career-employment-for-Baby-Boomer-mencid=0ei=lUPzSLuJEajs6gOajsF9usg=AFQjCNF2tUEoq8w6IsGZ5V9iV7yyDykw5Aimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=Y0v3p9n65aUJimgurl=www.examiner.com/images/blog/author/img81paul_briand_photo.jpg width=80 height=67 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Examiner.com/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.examiner.com/x-654-Baby-Boomer-Examiner~y2008m10d1-Byebye-to-career-employment-for-Baby-Boomer-mencid=0ei=lUPzSLuJEajs6gOajsF9usg=AFQjCNF2tUEoq8w6IsGZ5V9iV7yyDykw5ABye-bye to bcareer employment/b for Baby Boomer men/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fExaminer.comnbsp;-/font nobrOct 1, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1quot;bCareer employment/b â€“ meaning bemployment/b with a single employer from middle age to retirement â€“ is no longer the norm. So if workers are to remain in the b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2008/10/12/presidential_race_complicates_office_politicscid=1256403378ei=lUPzSLuJEajs6gOajsF9usg=AFQjCNHHqRhJmjba3sj6YYA6DTMgBjRW7Qimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=6RPMimhCcFAJimgurl=cache.boston.com/resize/bonzai-fba/Globe_Photo/2008/10/10/1223697426_6805/539w.jpg width=80 height=42 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Boston Globe/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/10/prweb1453774.htmcid=1256403378ei=lUPzSLuJEajs6gOajsF9usg=AFQjCNF7MNqaiP2sIIBdbBiIR5Cxje9lsAFive Things You Can do to Take Charge of Your bCareer/b During Harsh b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fPR Web (press release),nbsp;WAnbsp;-/font nobrOct 11, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Individuals with a will to succeed enjoy 100% control over their bcareers/b. The bemployment/b recruiting industry is especially booming; In general, bemployment/b b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2008/10/12/presidential_race_complicates_office_politicscid=1256403378ei=lUPzSLuJEajs6gOajsF9usg=AFQjCNHHqRhJmjba3sj6YYA6DTMgBjRW7QPresidential race complicates office politics/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrBoston Globe/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1256403378hl=ennobrall 3 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/story.html%3Fid%3D360848f9-b8b1-4c31-8234-751fad240daacid=0ei=lUPzSLuJEajs6gOajsF9usg=AFQjCNFb0T4WwJv03s5Px4tljmVCE6a7Dwimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=bpAoymMHHJsJimgurl=a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/media.canada.com/idl/vasn/20081011/137347-50253.jpg%3Fsize%3Dl width=80 height=80 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Vancouver Sun/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/story.html%3Fid%3D360848f9-b8b1-4c31-8234-751fad240daacid=0ei=lUPzSLuJEajs6gOajsF9usg=AFQjCNFb0T4WwJv03s5Px4tljmVCE6a7DwExperts advise patience when seeking first job/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fVancouver Sun,nbsp; Canadanbsp;-/font nobrOct 11, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1About a year ago, the bcareer/b coaches at Youth bEmployment/b Services Montreal began noticing an increase in the number of depressed and anxious job-seekers b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.onrec.com/newsstories/22928.aspcid=0ei=lUPzSLuJEajs6gOajsF9usg=AFQjCNHSxnJt6wGwjduJhC_0uNOTaZTKGQNOT ENOUGH JOBS FOR GRADUATES/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fOnline Recruitment,nbsp;UKnbsp;-/font nobr4 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Job recruitment bcareers/b fairs â€“ These are a great way to meet prospective employers, gain confidence talking to them, and make contacts. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.washtimes.com/news/2008/oct/13/students-stay-positive-in-bad-economy/cid=1257090401ei=lUPzSLuJEajs6gOajsF9usg=AFQjCNGigU00TyhI92RCHQwIbHLHFVsk3Aimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=SvpeT-knOT8Jimgurl=media.washingtontimes.com/media/img/photos/2008/05/26/WT200810518761702AR_r106x74.jpg%3Fc4028041f07984cc2b0208af53263b8f9a78b153 width=80 height=56 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Washington Times/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.washtimes.com/news/2008/oct/13/students-stay-positive-in-bad-economy/cid=1257090401ei=lUPzSLuJEajs6gOajsF9usg=AFQjCNGigU00TyhI92RCHQwIbHLHFVsk3AStudents stay positive in bad economy/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fWashington Times,nbsp;DCnbsp;-/font nobr9 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Ms. O#39;Neill admitted to being concerned about the current job market, but as a freshman, she is not worried about her bemployment/b yet. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://nwitimes.com/articles/2008/10/10/business/jobs_sunday/doc48e66153b8d5b950947014.txtcid=0ei=lUPzSLuJEajs6gOajsF9usg=AFQjCNG4vwa6Xipw0inExLWb9roglUsRsgbCareers/b without college/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fnwitimes.com,nbsp;INnbsp;-/font nobrOct 10, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1The requirements for bemployment/b in these fields include work experience and on-the-job training. Some employers may desire candidates who have had some b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122347733961315417.htmlcid=0ei=lUPzSLuJEajs6gOajsF9usg=AFQjCNF-D2ubgZi60hptnubCjChAsNw9FwTop Small Workplaces/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fWall Street Journal Blogs,nbsp;NYnbsp;-/font nobr12 minutes ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1After six months of bemployment/b and then annually thereafter, managers give their teams a quot;Performance Summary amp; Development Planquot; -- a lengthy document that b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.examiner.com/x-828-Entry-Level-Careers-Examiner~y2008m10d11-Recommended-reading-The-Nonprofit-Career-Guidecid=0ei=lUPzSLuJEajs6gOajsF9usg=AFQjCNEonwjaKRJ0INy2XdA-Sgwlcjf5tAimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=HhA0NY5T5SMJimgurl=www.examiner.com/images/blog/author/img205heather_huhman_photo.jpg width=80 height=67 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Examiner.com/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.examiner.com/x-828-Entry-Level-Careers-Examiner~y2008m10d11-Recommended-reading-The-Nonprofit-Career-Guidecid=0ei=lUPzSLuJEajs6gOajsF9usg=AFQjCNEonwjaKRJ0INy2XdA-Sgwlcjf5tARecommended reading: The Nonprofit bCareer/b Guide/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fExaminer.comnbsp;-/font nobrOct 12, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1From 1998 to 2005, bemployment/b in the sector grew by 16 percent â€“ three times faster than the rest of the economy. 1. Be directed. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

careers employment - Google News

Employment Law: Unfair Dismissal - Employer Succeeded in Changing Terms of Employment

Careers, Jobs & Employment