Being dismissed from your job is never easy, especially if you believe that you have been unfairly dismissed. You may not know what your rights are and feel daunted by the prospect of trying to defend yourself effectively.
That’s why at Clifton Ingram, our unfair dismissal solicitors provide practical, effective legal guidance to help protect your legal and financial position. We will take the time to get to know you and what your situation entails, using this to review your case in detail, offering clear guidance on the merits of making a claim, or engaging in negotiations with your former employer.
Our team advises employees of all levels and who work in a wide variety of industries. In addition to our services concerning unfair dismissal, we offer additional support with various employment law matters. For immediate support, please contact our team, or you can read our FAQs to learn more about unfair dismissal.
Contact our unfair dismissal solicitors in Farnham, Reading and Wokingham today
Our team work from offices in Farnham, Reading and Wokingham. We advise on unfair dismissal law in the UK for individuals all over Berkshire, as well as Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Surrey and further afield.
Speak to one of our unfair dismissal solicitors today by calling 0118 978 0099 or using the contact form at the bottom of the page, and we will respond quickly.
Alternatively, you can talk to a member of our team now via our live web chat.
Why trust Clifton Ingram for Unfair Dismissal advice for employees?
- One of the leading Unfair Dismissal firms in the Thames Valley and M3 Corridor, through to Surrey and surrounding areas
- Regularly advising clients in Farnham, Reading and Wokingham and across all of Berkshire and the surrounding areas, including Bracknell, Theale, Henley, Ascot, Crowthorne, Maidenhead, Camberley, Farnborough and Windsor.
- Ranked in the respected client guide The Legal 500 for Employment Law, recognising us as among the best employment law solicitors in the region
- Our Head of Employment Alison Gair and Partner Robert Cherry are members of the respected Employment Lawyers Association (ELA)
- Decades of expertise in providing employment law advice for employees on both contentious and non-contentious issues
- Experts in handling everyday and more niche employment law matters
- Strong expertise in handling negotiation and alternative dispute resolution to minimise the likelihood of tribunal proceedings
- Poised to take immediate, strong action to protect your interests where necessary
- A bespoke service tailored to your needs and circumstances
Our unfair dismissal advice services include:
- Initial case assessment
- Negotiation and settlement
- Claim preparation and tribunal representation
- Constructive and wrongful dismissal
Our unfair dismissal services
Initial case assessment
We regularly review cases involving accusations of unfair dismissal and advise our clients on whether they are viable and likely to lead to successful outcomes. The unfair dismissal compensation process can be complicated, so we try, wherever possible, to explain the potential case processes from the outset so that our clients can make informed decisions.
Negotiation and settlement
If you believe you have been unfairly dismissed, it may be possible to engage in negotiations with your former employer to secure compensation, including through ACAS early conciliation. If you have been asked to sign a settlement agreement as part of an unfair dismissal case, it’s important to make sure that the agreement is fair and in your best interests before you sign it. Our unfair dismissal solicitors can check that your best interests and needs are preserved and if details of the agreement are unfair or inaccurate, then we can negotiate on your behalf to fix this.
Claim preparation and tribunal representation
If it is not possible to negotiate a suitable settlement with your former employer, then our unfair dismissal solicitors will prepare your claim for an employment tribunal hearing. To make sure that your case is as strong as possible by the time it is presented, our team will take various actions, including collecting pre-existing evidence, collecting new evidence from trusted third-party professionals, organising the claim and its substantiation, and then presenting it.
When the time comes, we will guide you through the relevant employment tribunal processes and represent you through the proceedings in pursuit of the best possible outcome.
Constructive and wrongful dismissal
The line between constructive or wrongful dismissal and unfair dismissal is not always so clear. Our disciplinaries and dismissals for employers team can advise you in circumstances where you were let go under so-called reasonable circumstances but have reason to suspect that your employer failed to follow the correct processes.
Our own Employment law department ensures that we are fully up to date on your rights and on how to identify wrongful dismissal or termination.
Learn more about Unfair Dismissal
- What is unfair dismissal?
- How much can I sue for unfair dismissal?
- What is needed to prove unfair dismissal?
- What qualifies as an unfair dismissal?
- How do I start an unfair dismissal claim?
- What is constructive dismissal?
- How long does the process take?
What is unfair dismissal?
Unfair dismissal is a term used to describe when an employer ends an employee’s contract without following the proper process or having a fair or legitimate reason.
How much can I sue for unfair dismissal?
Two main awards affect the compensation amount for unfair dismissal. The first is known as a ‘basic award’, and it is a fixed sum based on your length of service, age, and weekly pay. There is a maximum cap on the basic award at £21,000. The ranks are as follows:
- If you are up to 22 years old, you may receive 50% of a week’s pay for each full year of service
- If you are 22-41 years old, you may receive 1 weeks of pay for each full year of service
- If you are 41 years old or older, you may receive 1.5 weeks of pay for each full year of service
Then, you may additionally receive a compensatory award. This is meant to compensate for any direct losses or loss of earnings and will be the equivalent of 52 weeks of gross salary, or £115,115, whichever is lower.
What is needed to prove unfair dismissal?
In order to prove an unfair dismissal claim, then you will need to show that you suffered wrongful termination. This would involve proving that your employer gave you an unfair reason for your dismissal, failed to follow correct procedures, or acted unreasonably.
What qualifies as an unfair dismissal?
Unfair dismissal usually means that the employer failed to correctly follow procedure, acted unreasonably, or dismissed you out of spite of some perceived misbehaviour. This could include, for example:
- Refusing to give up working time rights, such as lunch breaks
- Joining a trade union or taking part in industrial action
- Planning to resign or already resigning, despite giving the correct notice period
- Requesting flexible or hybrid working
- Asking for time off for civic duties
How do I start an unfair dismissal claim?
There are a few key steps to starting a claim in the UK that our unfair dismissal lawyers can guide you through. These include:
- Getting initial advice – contact a specialist unfair dismissal solicitor for an initial consultation. At Clifton Ingram, we can advise you from the outset with an initial case assessment as to whether your case is viable.
- Gathering evidence – the second you start to question the fairness of your dismissal, begin to save and compile all relevant paperwork and correspondence, request a copy of your employment contract and company policies, assemble any performance reviews you may have, etc.
- Begin ACAS Early Conciliation – Your solicitor will advise you on how to do this, including liaising with an ACAS Conciliator. It’s an important step to take before you can file an employment tribunal claim. Even if you hope to settle matters through negotiation, you are advised to complete this step.
What is constructive dismissal?
When an employer breaches their employment contract, forcing the employee to resign suddenly, then this could be constructive dismissal. For example, if an employer was not paying their employees correctly or fostering a hostile work environment.
How long does the unfair dismissal for employees claims process take?
The answer depends on the complexity of the case. Fairly routine unfair dismissal cases can take up to a year to complete, or even less if the agreement is reached through negotiation.
If your case is more complex, then it could take between 18-24 months. Wherever possible, we will keep the case moving forward with effective decision-making and anticipate any delays in order to prevent them.
Our Unfair Dismissal Solicitor fees
Wherever possible, Clifton Ingram will provide an upfront estimation of the cost of our services. We maintain transparency throughout the process regarding any potential changes that may affect your final fee.
If your needs are fairly straightforward then we may offer you a fixed fee and, should your legal needs prove to be more complicated, then we will provide a realistic fee range so that you can proceed knowing exactly what costs are involved.
To find out more about our unfair dismissal solicitors’ fees, please get in touch using the contact details below.
Contact our Unfair Dismissal Solicitors in Farnham, Reading and Wokingham today
Our team work from offices in Farnham, Reading and Wokingham. We advise on unfair dismissal law in the UK for individuals all over Berkshire, as well as Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Surrey and further afield.
Speak to one of our unfair dismissal solicitors today by calling 0118 978 0099 or using the contact form at the bottom of the page, and we will respond quickly.
Alternatively, you can talk to a member of our team now via our live web chat.