Employment Rights Act 1996

Other dismissals E+W+S

[F1 98A Procedural fairness E+W+S

F2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 98A inserted (1.10.2004) by Employment Act 2002 (c. 22), ss. 34(2), 55(2); S.I. 2004/1717, art. 2(2) (subject to art. 3)

F2 S. 98A repealed (6.4.2009) by Employment Act 2008 (c. 24), ss. 2, 20, 22(1)(a), Sch. Pt. 1; S.I. 2008/3232, art. 2 (with Sch. paras. 1, 5)

[F3 98B Jury service E+W+S

(1) An employee who is dismissed shall be regarded for the purposes of this Part as unfairly dismissed if the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for the dismissal is that the employee—

(a) has been summoned under the Juries Act 1974, [F4 Part 1 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009], the Court of Session Act 1988 or the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 to attend for service as a juror, or

(b) has been absent from work because he attended at any place in pursuance of being so summoned.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply in relation to an employee who is dismissed if the employer shows—

(a) that the circumstances were such that the employee’s absence in pursuance of being so summoned was likely to cause substantial injury to the employer’s undertaking,

(b) that the employer brought those circumstances to the attention of the employee,

(c) that the employee refused or failed to apply to the appropriate officer for excusal from or a deferral of the obligation to attend in pursuance of being so summoned, and

(d) that the refusal or failure was not reasonable.

(3) In paragraph (c) of subsection (2) “ the appropriate officer ” means—

(a) in the case of a person who has been summoned under the Juries Act 1974, the officer designated for the purposes of section 8, 9 or, as the case may be, 9A of that Act;

(b) in the case of a person who has been summoned under the Coroners Act 1988, a person who is the appropriate officer for the purposes of any rules made under subsection (1) of section 32 of that Act by virtue of subsection (2) of that section;

(c) in the case of a person who has been summoned under the Court of Session Act 1988, either—

(i) the clerk of court issuing the citation to attend for jury service; or

(ii) the clerk of the court before which the person is cited to attend for jury service;

(d) in the case of a person who has been summoned under the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, either—

(i) the clerk of court issuing the citation to attend for jury service; or

(ii) the clerk of the court before which the person has been cited to attend for jury service;

and references in that paragraph to a refusal or failure to apply include references to a refusal or failure to give a notice under section 1(2)(b) of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1980.]

Textual Amendments

F3 S. 98B inserted (6.4.2005) by Employment Relations Act 2004 (c. 24), ss. 40(3), 59(2)-(4); S.I. 2005/872, arts. 4, 5, Sch. (subject to arts. 6-12)

F4 Words in s. 98B(1)(a) substituted (25.7.2013) by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), s. 182(4)(e), Sch. 21 para. 36(3) (with s. 180); S.I. 2013/1869, art. 2(o)(xv)

[F5 99 Leave for family reasons. E+W+S

(1) An employee who is dismissed shall be regarded for the purposes of this Part as unfairly dismissed if—

(a) the reason or principal reason for the dismissal is of a prescribed kind, or

(b) the dismissal takes place in prescribed circumstances.

(2) In this section “ prescribed ” means prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State.

(3) A reason or set of circumstances prescribed under this section must relate to—

(a) pregnancy, childbirth or maternity,

[F6 (aa) time off under section 57ZE,]

[F7 (ab) time off under section 57ZJ or 57ZL,]

(b) ordinary, compulsory or additional maternity leave,

[F8 (ba) ordinary or additional adoption leave,]

[F9 (bb) shared parental leave,]

(c) parental leave,

[F10 [F11 (ca) [F12 paternity leave],]]

[F13 (cb) parental bereavement leave,] or

(d) time off under section 57A;

and it may also relate to redundancy or other factors.

(4) A reason or set of circumstances prescribed under subsection (1) satisfies subsection (3)(c) or (d) if it relates to action which an employee—

(a) takes,

(b) agrees to take, or

(c) refuses to take,

under or in respect of a collective or workforce agreement which deals with parental leave.

(5) Regulations under this section may—

(a) make different provision for different cases or circumstances;

(b) apply any enactment, in such circumstances as may be specified and subject to any conditions specified, in relation to persons regarded as unfairly dismissed by reason of this section.]

Textual Amendments

F5 S. 99 substituted (15.12.1999) by 1999 c. 26, s. 9, Sch. 4 Pt. III para. 16; S.I. 1999/2830, art. 2(2), Sch. 1 Pt. II (with Sch. 3 paras. 10, 11)

F6 S. 99(3)(aa) inserted (30.6.2014) by Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), ss. 127(2)(b), 139(6); S.I. 2014/1640, art. 3(1)(i)

F7 S. 99(3)(ab) inserted (30.6.2014) by Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), ss. 128(2)(c), 139(6); S.I. 2014/1640, art. 3(1)(j)

F8 S. 99(3)(ba) inserted (8.12.2002) by Employment Act 2002 (c. 22), s. 53, Sch. 7 para. 33(2); S.I. 2002/2866, art. 2(2), Sch. 1 Pt. 2

F9 S. 99(3)(bb) inserted (30.6.2014) by Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), s. 139(6), Sch. 7 para. 39(a); S.I. 2014/1640, art. 3(2)(i)

F10 S. 99(3)(ca) substituted (8.12.2002) for the word "or" by Employment Act 2002 (c. 22), s. 53, Sch. 7 para. 33(3); S.I. 2002/2866, art. 2(2), Sch. 1 Pt. 2

F11 S. 99(3)(ca) substituted (3.3.2010) by Work and Families Act 2006 (c. 18), ss. 11, 19, Sch. 1 para. 41; S.I. 2010/495, art. 3(c)

F12 Words in s. 99(3)(ca) substituted (5.4.2015) by Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), s. 139(6), Sch. 7 para. 39(b); S.I. 2014/1640, art. 7(t) (with art. 16)

F13 S. 99(3)(cb) inserted (18.1.2020) by Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Act 2018 (c. 24), s. 2(2), Sch. para. 27; S.I. 2020/45, reg. 2

100 Health and safety cases. E+W+S

(1) An employee who is dismissed shall be regarded for the purposes of this Part as unfairly dismissed if the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for the dismissal is that—

(a) having been designated by the employer to carry out activities in connection with preventing or reducing risks to health and safety at work, the employee carried out (or proposed to carry out) any such activities,

(b) being a representative of workers on matters of health and safety at work or member of a safety committee—

(i) in accordance with arrangements established under or by virtue of any enactment, or

(ii) by reason of being acknowledged as such by the employer,

the employee performed (or proposed to perform) any functions as such a representative or a member of such a committee,

(c) being an employee at a place where—

(i) there was no such representative or safety committee, or

(ii) there was such a representative or safety committee but it was not reasonably practicable for the employee to raise the matter by those means,

he brought to his employer’s attention, by reasonable means, circumstances connected with his work which he reasonably believed were harmful or potentially harmful to health or safety,

(d) in circumstances of danger which the employee reasonably believed to be serious and imminent and which he could not reasonably have been expected to avert, he left (or proposed to leave) or (while the danger persisted) refused to return to his place of work or any dangerous part of his place of work, or

(e) in circumstances of danger which the employee reasonably believed to be serious and imminent, he took (or proposed to take) appropriate steps to protect himself or other persons from the danger.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1)(e) whether steps which an employee took (or proposed to take) were appropriate is to be judged by reference to all the circumstances including, in particular, his knowledge and the facilities and advice available to him at the time.

(3) Where the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for the dismissal of an employee is that specified in subsection (1)(e), he shall not be regarded as unfairly dismissed if the employer shows that it was (or would have been) so negligent for the employee to take the steps which he took (or proposed to take) that a reasonable employer might have dismissed him for taking (or proposing to take) them.

101 Shop workers and betting workers who refuse Sunday work. E+W+S

(1) Where an employee who is—

(a) a protected shop worker or an opted-out shop worker, or

(b) a protected betting worker or an opted-out betting worker,

is dismissed, he shall be regarded for the purposes of this Part as unfairly dismissed if the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for the dismissal is that he refused (or proposed to refuse) to do shop work, or betting work, on Sunday or on a particular Sunday.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply in relation to an opted-out shop worker or an opted-out betting worker where the reason (or principal reason) for the dismissal is that he refused (or proposed to refuse) to do shop work, or betting work, on any Sunday or Sundays falling before the end of the notice period.

(3) A shop worker or betting worker who is dismissed shall be regarded for the purposes of this Part as unfairly dismissed if the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for the dismissal is that the shop worker or betting worker gave (or proposed to give) an opting-out notice to the employer.

(4) For the purposes of section 36(2)(b) or 41(1)(b), the appropriate date in relation to this section is the effective date of termination.

Extent Information

E1 S. 101, which previously extended to England and Wales only, extends to England and Wales and Scotland from 6.4.2004 by virtue of the amendment to s. 244(2) by Sunday Working (Scotland) Act 2003 (c. 18), ss. 1(5), 3; S.I. 2004/958, art. 2

[F14 101ZA Shop workers who refuse to work additional hours on Sunday E+W+S

(1) Subsection (2) applies where a shop worker has given an objection notice that has not been withdrawn and he or she is dismissed.

(2) The shop worker is to be regarded for the purposes of this Part as unfairly dismissed if the reason (or the principal reason) for the dismissal is that he or she refused, or proposed to refuse, to do shop work for additional hours on Sunday or on a particular Sunday.

(3) Subsection (2) does not apply where the reason (or principal reason) for the dismissal is that the shop worker refused (or proposed to refuse) to do shop work for additional hours on any Sunday or Sundays falling before the end of the relevant period.

(4) A shop worker who is dismissed is to be regarded for the purposes of this Part as unfairly dismissed if the reason (or principal reason) for the dismissal is that the worker gave (or proposed to give) an objection notice to the employer.

(5) In this section—

• “additional hours” and “objection notice” have the meanings given by section 41A(2);

• “relevant period” means the period determined by section 43ZA(2) (but subject to section 41D(3)).]

Textual Amendments

F14 S. 101ZA inserted (4.5.2016 for specified purposes) by Enterprise Act 2016 (c. 12), s. 44(1)(d), Sch. 5 para. 9

[F15 101A Working time cases. E+W+S

[F16 1] An employee who is dismissed shall be regarded for the purposes of this Part as unfairly dismissed if the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for the dismissal is that the employee—

(a) refused (or proposed to refuse) to comply with a requirement which the employer imposed (or proposed to impose) in contravention of the M1 Working Time Regulations 1998,

(b) refused (or proposed to refuse) to forgo a right conferred on him by those Regulations,

(c) failed to sign a workforce agreement for the purposes of those Regulations, or to enter into, or agree to vary or extend, any other agreement with his employer which is provided for in those Regulations, or

(d) being—

(i) a representative of members of the workforce for the purposes of Schedule 1 to those Regulations, or

(ii) a candidate in an election in which any person elected will, on being elected, be such a representative,

performed (or proposed to perform) any functions or activities as such a representative or candidate.

[F17 (2) A reference in this section to the Working Time Regulations 1998 includes a reference to

[F18 (a)] the Merchant Shipping (Working Time: Inland Waterways) Regulations 2003.

[F19 (b) the Fishing Vessels (Working Time: Sea-fishermen) Regulations 2004.]

[F20 (c) the Cross-border Railway Services (Working Time) Regulations 2008]

[F21 (d) the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Hours of Work) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/58).]]]

Textual Amendments

F15 S. 101A inserted (1.10.1998) by S.I. 1998/1833, reg. 32(1)

F16 S. 101A renumbered as s. 101A(1) (24.12.2003) by The Merchant Shipping (Working Time: Inland Waterways) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/3049), reg. 20, Sch. 2 para. 3(3)

F17 S. 101A(2) inserted (24.12.2003) by The Merchant Shipping (Working Time: Inland Waterways) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/3049), reg. 20, Sch. 2 para. 3(3)

F18 Words in s. 101A(2) renumbered as s. 101A(2)(a) (16.8.2004) by The Fishing Vessels (Working Time: Sea-fishermen) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1713), regs. 1, 22, Sch. 2 para. 2(3)(a)

F19 S. 101A(2)(b) inserted (16.8.2004) by The Fishing Vessels (Working Time: Sea-fishermen) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1713), regs. 1, 22, Sch. 2 para. 2(3)(b)

F20 S. 101A(2)(c) inserted (27.7.2008) by The Cross-border Railway Services (Working Time) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/1660), reg. 19, Sch. 3 para. 2(3)

F21 S. 101A(2)(d) substituted (6.4.2018) by The Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Hours of Work) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/58), reg. 1, Sch. 2 para. 2(b) (with regs. 3, 4)

Marginal Citations

M1 S.I. 1998/1833

102 Trustees of occupational pension schemes. E+W+S

(1) An employee who is dismissed shall be regarded for the purposes of this Part as unfairly dismissed if the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for the dismissal is that, being a trustee of a relevant occupational pension scheme which relates to his employment, the employee performed (or proposed to perform) any functions as such a trustee.

[F22 (1A) This section applies to an employee who is a director of a company which is a trustee of a relevant occupational pension scheme as it applies to an employee who is a trustee of such a scheme (references to such a trustee being read for this purpose as references to such a director).]

(2) In this section “relevant occupational pension scheme” means an occupational pension scheme (as defined in section 1 of the M2 Pension Schemes Act 1993) established under a trust.

Textual Amendments

F22 S. 102(1A) inserted (11.11.1999 for specified purposes and otherwise 25.4.2000) by 1999 c. 30, ss. 18, 89(1)(5)(a), Sch. 2 para. 19(4); S.I. 2000/1047, art. 2(2), Sch. Pt. II

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 102 applied (11.11.1999 for specified purposes and otherwise 8.10.2001) by 1999 c. 30, s. 6(1), (with s. 8(6)); S.I. 2000/1047, art. 2(2), Sch. Pt. V

Commencement Information

I1 S. 102 wholly in force at 6.10.1996, see Sch. 2 para. 15(1) and S.I. 1996/2514, art. 2

Marginal Citations

M2 1993 c. 48.

103 Employee representatives. E+W+S

[F23 (1)] An employee who is dismissed shall be regarded for the purposes of this Part as unfairly dismissed if the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for the dismissal is that the employee, being—

(a) an employee representative for the purposes of Chapter II of Part IV of the M3 Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (redundancies) or [F24 regulations 9, 13 and 15 of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006], or

(b) a candidate in an election in which any person elected will, on being elected, be such an employee representative,

performed (or proposed to perform) any functions or activities as such an employee representative or candidate.

[F25 (2) An employee who is dismissed shall be regarded for the purposes of this Part as unfairly dismissed if the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for the dismissal is that the employee took part in an election of employee representatives for the purposes of Chapter II of Part IV of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (redundancies) or [F26 regulations 9, 13 and 15 of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 ] . ]

Textual Amendments

F23 S. 103 renumbered as s. 103(1) (28.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/1925, reg. 13

F24 Words in s. 103(1)(a) substituted (6.4.2006 with application in accordance with reg. 21(1) of the amending S.I.) by The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/246), regs. 1(2), 20, Sch. 2 para. 10(c) (with application as mentioned in reg. 21(1))

F25 S. 103(2) inserted (28.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/1925, reg. 13

F26 Words in s. 103(2) substituted (6.4.2006 with application in accordance with reg. 21(1) of the amending S.I.) by The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/246), regs. 1(2), 20, Sch. 2 para. 10(c) (with application as mentioned in reg. 21(1))

Marginal Citations

M3 1992 c. 52.

[F27 103A Protected disclosure. E+W+S

An employee who is dismissed shall be regarded for the purposes of this Part as unfairly dismissed if the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for the dismissal is that the employee made a protected disclosure.]

Textual Amendments

F27 S. 103A inserted (2.7.1999) by 1998 c. 23, s. 5; S.I. 1999/1547, art. 2

104 Assertion of statutory right. E+W+S

(1) An employee who is dismissed shall be regarded for the purposes of this Part as unfairly dismissed if the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for the dismissal is that the employee—

(a) brought proceedings against the employer to enforce a right of his which is a relevant statutory right, or

(b) alleged that the employer had infringed a right of his which is a relevant statutory right.

(2) It is immaterial for the purposes of subsection (1)—

(a) whether or not the employee has the right, or

(b) whether or not the right has been infringed;

but, for that subsection to apply, the claim to the right and that it has been infringed must be made in good faith.

(3) It is sufficient for subsection (1) to apply that the employee, without specifying the right, made it reasonably clear to the employer what the right claimed to have been infringed was.

(4) The following are relevant statutory rights for the purposes of this section—

(a) any right conferred by this Act for which the remedy for its infringement is by way of a complaint or reference to an [F28 employment tribunal],

(b) the right conferred by section 86 of this Act, F29 . . .

(c) the rights conferred by sections 68, 86, [F30 145A, 145B,] 146, 168, [F31 168A,] 169 and 170 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (deductions from pay, union activities and time off) F32 [F33 . . .

F34 [F35 (d) the rights conferred by the Working Time Regulations 1998, [F36 the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Hours of Work) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/58)], the Merchant Shipping (Working Time: Inland Waterway) Regulations 2003 [F37 , the Fishing Vessels (Working Time: Sea-fisherman) Regulations 2004 or the Cross-border Railway Services (Working Time) Regulations 2008].]][F38 , and

(e) the rights conferred by the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006.]

[F39 (5) In this section any reference to an employer includes, where the right in question is conferred by section 63A, the principal (within the meaning of section 63A(3)).]

Textual Amendments

F28 Words in s. 104(4)(a) substituted (1.8.1998) by 1998 c. 8, s. 1(2)(a) (with s. 16(2)); S.I. 1998/1658, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

F29 Word in s. 104(4)(b) omitted (1.10.1998) by virtue of S.I. 1998/1833, reg. 32(2)(a)

F30 Words in s. 104(4)(c) inserted (1.10.2004) by Employment Relations Act 2004 (c. 24), ss. 57(1), 59(2)-(4), Sch. 1 para. 31; S.I. 2004/2566, art. 3(b) (subject to arts. 5-8)

F31 Word in s. 104(4)(c) inserted (27.4.2003) by Employment Act 2002 (c. 22), ss. 53, 55(2), Sch. 7 para. 34; S.I. 2003/1190, art. 2(2)(c)

F32 Word in s. 104(4)(c) omitted (6.4.2006 with application in accordance with reg. 21(1) of the amending S.I.) by virtue of The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/246), regs. 1(2), 19(a)

F33 S. 104(4)(d) and preceding word inserted (1.10.1998) by S.I. 1998/1833, reg. 32(2)(b)

F34 S. 104(4)(d) and preceding word inserted (1.10.1998) by S.I. 1998/1833, reg. 32(2)(b)

F35 S. 104(4)(d) substituted (16.8.2004) by The Fishing Vessels (Working Time: Sea-fishermen) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1713), regs. 1, 22, Sch. 2 para. 2(4)

F36 Words in s. 104(4)(d) substituted (6.4.2018) by The Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Hours of Work) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/58), reg. 1, Sch. 2 para. 2(c) (with regs. 3, 4)

F37 Words in s. 104(4)(d) substituted (27.7.2008) by The Cross-border Railway Services (Working Time) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/1660), reg. 19, Sch. 3 para. 2(4)

F38 S. 104(4)(e) and word inserted (6.4.2006 with application in accordance with reg. 21(1) of the amending S.I.) by The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/246), regs. 1(2), 19(b)

F39 S. 104(5) inserted (1.9.1999) by 1998 c. 30, s. 44(1), Sch. 3 para. 13 (with s. 42(8)); S.I. 1999/987, art. 2

[F40 104A The national minimum wage. E+W+S

(1) An employee who is dismissed shall be regarded for the purposes of this Part as unfairly dismissed if the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for the dismissal is that—

(a) any action was taken, or was proposed to be taken, by or on behalf of the employee with a view to enforcing, or otherwise securing the benefit of, a right of the employee’s to which this section applies; or

(b) the employer was prosecuted for an offence under section 31 of the National Minimum Wage Act 1998 as a result of action taken by or on behalf of the employee for the purpose of enforcing, or otherwise securing the benefit of, a right of the employee’s to which this section applies; or

( c ) the employee qualifies, or will or might qualify, for the national minimum wage or for a particular rate of national minimum wage.

(2) It is immaterial for the purposes of paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (1) above—

(a) whether or not the employee has the right, or

(b) whether or not the right has been infringed,

but, for that subsection to apply, the claim to the right and, if applicable, the claim that it has been infringed must be made in good faith.

(3) The following are the rights to which this section applies—

(a) any right conferred by, or by virtue of, any provision of the National Minimum Wage Act 1998 for which the remedy for its infringement is by way of a complaint to an employment tribunal; and

(b) any right conferred by section 17 of the National Minimum Wage Act 1998 (worker receiving less than national minimum wage entitled to additional remuneration).]

Textual Amendments

F40 S. 104A inserted (1.11.1998) by 1998 c. 39, s. 25(1); S.I. 1998/2574, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 3)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C2 S. 104A modified (1.4.1999) by 1948 c. 47, s. 3A(5) (as inserted (1.4.1999) by 1998 c. 39, s. 47, Sch. 2 Pt. I para. 3; S.I. 1999/685, art. 2 Sch.)

S. 104A extended (1.4.1999) by 1949 c. 30, s. 3A(4) (as inserted (1.4.1999) by 1998 c. 39, s. 47, Sch. 2 Pt. II para. 13; S.I. 1999/685, art.2, Sch.)

C3 S. 104A(1)(c) modified (E.W.) (30.7.2014) by Agricultural Sector (Wales) Act 2014 (anaw 6), ss. 5(8), 19 (with s. 14(1))

[F41 104B Tax credits E+W+S

(1) An employee who is dismissed shall be regarded for the purposes of this Part as unfairly dismissed if the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for the dismissal is that—

(a) any action was taken, or was proposed to be taken, by or on behalf of the employee with a view to enforcing, or otherwise securing the benefit of, a right conferred on the employee by regulations under section 25 of the Tax Credits Act 2002,

(b) a penalty was imposed on the employer, or proceedings for a penalty were brought against him, under that Act, as a result of action taken by or on behalf of the employee for the purpose of enforcing, or otherwise securing the benefit of, such a right, or

(c) the employee is entitled, or will or may be entitled, to working tax credit.

(2) It is immaterial for the purposes of subsection (1)(a) or (b)—

(a) whether or not the employee has the right, or

(b) whether or not the right has been infringed,

but, for those provisions to apply, the claim to the right and (if applicable) the claim that it has been infringed must be made in good faith.]

Textual Amendments

F41 S. 104B substituted (1.9.2002 for certain purposes, otherwise prosp.) by Tax Credits Act 2002 (c. 21), s. 27, Sch. 1 para. 3(2); S.I. 2002/1727, art. 2

[F42 104C Flexible working E+W+S

An employee who is dismissed shall be regarded for the purposes of this Part as unfairly dismissed if the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for the dismissal is that the employee—

(a) made (or proposed to make) an application under section 80F,

F43 ( b ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(c) brought proceedings against the employer under section 80H, or

(d) alleged the existence of any circumstance which would constitute a ground for bringing such proceedings.]

Textual Amendments

F42 S. 104C inserted (6.4.2003) by Employment Act 2002 (c. 22), s. 47(4); S.I. 2002/2866, art. 2(3), Sch. 1 Pt. 3

F43 S. 104C(1)(b) repealed (30.6.2014) by Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), ss. 132(5)(e), 139(6); S.I. 2014/1640, art. 3(1)(l) (with art. 10)

[F44 104D Pension enrolment E+W+S

(1) An employee who is dismissed shall be regarded for the purposes of this Part as unfairly dismissed if the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for the dismissal is that—

(a) any action was taken, or was proposed to be taken, with a view to enforcing in favour of the employee a requirement to which this section applies;

(b) the employer was prosecuted for an offence under section 45 of the Pensions Act 2008 as a result of action taken for the purpose of enforcing in favour of the employee a requirement to which this section applies; or

(c) any provision of Chapter 1 of that Part of that Act applies to the employee, or will or might apply.

(2) It is immaterial for the purposes of paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (1) above—

(a) whether or not the requirement applies in favour of the employee, or

(b) whether or not the requirement has been contravened,

but, for that subsection to apply, the claim that the requirement applies and, if applicable, the claim that it has been contravened must be made in good faith.

(3) This section applies to any requirement imposed on the employer by or under any provision of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of the Pensions Act 2008.

(4) In this section references to enforcing a requirement include references to securing its benefit in any way.]

Textual Amendments

F44 S. 105(7JA) inserted (30.6.2012) by Pensions Act 2008 (c. 30), ss. 57(4), 149(1); S.I. 2012/1682, art. 2, Sch. 2

[F45 104E Study and training E+W+S

An employee who is dismissed is to be regarded for the purposes of this Part as unfairly dismissed if the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for the dismissal is that the employee—

(a) made (or proposed to make) a section 63D application,

(b) exercised (or proposed to exercise) a right conferred on the employee under section 63F,

(c) brought proceedings against the employer under section 63I, or

(d) alleged the existence of any circumstance which would constitute a ground for bringing such proceedings.]

Textual Amendments

F45 S. 104E inserted (6.4.2010 for certain purposes and otherwise prosp.) by Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 (c. 22), ss. 40(4), 269(4); S.I. 2010/303, art. 4, Sch. 3 (with arts. 8-14) (as amended by S.I. 2010/1151, art. 22)

[F46 104F Blacklists E+W+S

(1) An employee who is dismissed shall be regarded for the purposes of this Part as unfairly dismissed if the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for the dismissal relates to a prohibited list, and either—

(a) the employer contravenes regulation 3 of the 2010 Regulations in relation to that prohibited list, or

(b) the employer—

(i) relies on information supplied by a person who contravenes that regulation in relation to that list, and

(ii) knows or ought reasonably to know that the information relied on is supplied in contravention of that regulation.

(2) If there are facts from which the tribunal could conclude, in the absence of any other explanation, that the employer—

(a) contravened regulation 3 of the 2010 Regulations, or

(b) relied on information supplied in contravention of that regulation,

the tribunal must find that such a contravention or reliance on information occurred, unless the employer shows that it did not.

(3) In this section—

• “ the 2010 Regulations ” means the Employment Relations Act 1999 (Blacklists) Regulations 2010, and

• “ prohibited list ” has the meaning given in those Regulations (see regulation 3(2)). ]

Textual Amendments

F46 S. 104F inserted (2.3.2010) by The Employment Relations Act 1999 (Blacklists) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/493), reg. 12(2)

[F47 104G Employee shareholder status E+W+S

An employee who is dismissed is to be regarded for the purposes of this Part as unfairly dismissed if the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for the dismissal is that the employee refused to accept an offer by the employer for the employee to become an employee shareholder (within the meaning of section 205A).]

Textual Amendments

F47 S. 104G inserted (1.9.2013) by Growth and Infrastructure Act 2013 (c. 27), ss. 31(4), 35(1); S.I. 2013/1766, art. 2

105 Redundancy. E+W+S

(1) An employee who is dismissed shall be regarded for the purposes of this Part as unfairly dismissed if—

(a) the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for the dismissal is that the employee was redundant,

(b) 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 the employee and who have not been dismissed by the employer, and

F48 [F49 (c) it is shown that any of subsections [F50 (2A) to [F51 (7N)]] applies.]

F52 (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F53 (2A) This subsection applies if the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for which the employee was selected for dismissal was one of those specified in subsection (1) of section 98B (unless the case is one to which subsection (2) of that section applies).]

(3) This subsection applies if the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for which the employee was selected for dismissal was one of those specified in subsection (1) of section 100 (read with subsections (2) and (3) of that section).

(4) This subsection applies if either—

(a) the employee was a protected shop worker or an opted-out shop worker, or a protected betting worker or an opted-out betting worker, and the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for which the employee was selected for dismissal was that specified in subsection (1) of section 101 (read with subsection (2) of that section), or

(b) the employee was a shop worker or a betting worker and the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for which the employee was selected for dismissal was that specified in subsection (3) of that section.

[F54 (4A) This subsection applies if the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for which the employee was selected for dismissal was one of those specified in section 101A.]

(5) This subsection applies if the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for which the employee was selected for dismissal was that specified in section 102(1).

(6) This subsection applies if the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for which the employee was selected for dismissal was that specified in section 103.

[F55 (6A) This subsection applies if the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for which the employee was selected for dismissal was that specified in section 103A.]

(7) This subsection applies if the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for which the employee was selected for dismissal was one of those specified in subsection (1) of section 104 (read with subsections (2) and (3) of that section).

[F56 (7A) This subsection applies if the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for which the employee was selected for dismissal was one of those specified in subsection (1) of section 104A (read with subsection (2) of that section).]

[F57 (7B) This subsection applies if the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for which the employee was selected for dismissal was one of those specified in subsection (1) of section 104B (read with subsection (2) of that section).]

[F58 (7BA) This subsection applies if the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for which the employee was selected for dismissal was one of those specified in section 104C.]

[F59 (7BB) This subsection applies if the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for which the employee was selected for dismissal was one of those specified in section 104E.]

[F60 (7C) This subsection applies if—

(a) the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for which the employee was selected for dismissal was the reason mentioned in section 238A(2) of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (participation in official industrial action), and

(b) subsection (3), (4) or (5) of that section applies to the dismissal.]

[F61 (7D) This subsection applies if the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for which the employee was selected for dismissal was one specified in paragraph (3) or (6) of regulation 28 of the Transnational Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations 1999 (read with paragraphs (4) and (7) of that regulation).]

[F62 (7E) This subsection applies if the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for which the employee was selected for dismissal was one specified in paragraph (3) of regulation 7 of the Part-time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2000 (unless the case is one to which paragraph (4) of that regulation applies).]

[F63 (7F) This subsection applies if the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for which the employee was selected for dismissal was one specified in paragraph (3) of regulation 6 of the Fixed-term Employees (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2002 (unless the case is one to which paragraph (4) of that regulation applies).]

[F64 (7G) This subsection applies if the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for which the employee was selected for dismissal was one specified in paragraph (3) or (6) of regulation 42 of the European Public Limited-Liability Company Regulations 2004 (read with paragraphs (4) and (7) of that regulation).]

[F65 (7H) This subsection applies if the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for which the employee was selected for dismissal was one specified in paragraph (3) or (6) of regulation 30 of the Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations 2004 (read with paragraphs (4) and (7) of that regulation).]

[F66 (7I) This subsection applies if the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for which the employee was selected for dismissal was one specified in paragraph 5(3) or (5) of the Schedule to the Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Consultation by Employers and Miscellaneous Amendment) Regulations 2006 (read with paragraph 5(6) of that Schedule).]

[F67 (7IA) F68 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ]

[F69 (7J) This subsection applies if the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for which the employee was selected for dismissal was one specified in paragraph (3) or (6) of regulation 31 of the European Cooperative Society (Involvement of Employees) Regulations 2006 (read with paragraphs (4) and (7) of that regulation).]

[F70 (7JA) This subsection applies if the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for which the employee was selected for dismissal was one of those specified in subsection (1) of section 104D (read with subsection (2) of that section).]

F71 (7K) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F72 (7L) This subsection applies if the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for which the employee was selected for dismissal was one specified in paragraph (3) or (6) of regulation 29 of the European Public Limited-Liability Company (Employee Involvement) (Great Britain) Regulations 2009( S.I. 2009/2401) (read with paragraphs (4) and (7) of that regulation). ]

[F73 (7M) This subsection applies if—

(a) the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for which the employee was selected for dismissal was the one specified in the opening words of section 104F(1), and

(b) the condition in paragraph (a) or (b) of that subsection was met.]

[F74 (7N) This subsection applies if the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for which the employee was selected for dismissal was one specified in—

(a) paragraph (3) of regulation 17 of the Agency Workers Regulations 2010 (unless the case is one to which paragraph (4) of that regulation applies); or

(b) paragraph (3) of regulation 5 of the Agency Workers (Amendment) Regulations 2019 (unless the case is one to which paragraph (4) of that regulation applies).]

(8) For the purposes of section 36(2)(b) or 41(1)(b), the appropriate date in relation to this section is the effective date of termination.

(9) In this Part “redundancy case” means a case where paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1) of this section are satisfied.

Textual Amendments

F48 By Pensions Act 2008 (c. 30), ss. 57(3), 149(1), it is provided (prosp.) that in s. 105(1)(c) for "(7J)" there be substituted "(7K)"

F49 S. 105(1)(c) substituted (18.8.2006) by The European Cooperative Society (Involvement of Employees) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/2059), reg. 32(1)(a)

F50 Words in s. 105(1)(c) substituted (15.12.2007) by The Companies (Cross-Border Mergers) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/2974), reg. 48(1)(a)

F51 Words in s. 105(1)(c) substituted (1.10.2011) by The Agency Workers Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/93), reg. 25, Sch. 2 para. 15

F52 S. 105(2) repealed (15.12.1999) by 1999 c. 26, ss. 9, 44, Sch. 4 Pt. III para. 17, Sch. 9(2); S.I. 1999/2830, art. 2(2)(3), Sch. 1 Pt. II, Sch. 2 Pt. II (with Sch. 3 paras. 10, 11)

F53 S. 105(2A) inserted (6.4.2005) by Employment Relations Act 2004 (c. 24), ss. 40(5), 59(2)-(4); S.I. 2005/872, arts. 4, 5, Sch. (subject to arts. 6-12)

F54 S. 105(4A) inserted (1.10.1998) by S.I. 1998/1833, reg. 32(3)

F55 S. 105(6A) inserted (2.7.1999) by 1998 c. 23, s. 6; S.I. 1999/1547, art. 2

F56 S. 105(7A) inserted (1.11.1998) by 1998 c. 39, s. 25(2); S.I. 1998/2574, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 3)

F57 S. 105(7B) inserted (5.10.1999) by 1999 c. 10, ss. 7, 20(2), Sch. 3 para. 3(2) (which amending Act was repealed (in part on 27.8.2002 and 4.12.2002, otherwise prosp.) by Tax Credits Act 2002 (c. 21), s. 60, Sch. 6; S.I. 2002/1727, art. 2) and insertion continued (1.9.2002 for certain purposes, otherwise prosp.) by Tax Credits Act 2002 (c. 21), s. 27, Sch. 1 para. 3(3); S.I. 2002/1727, art. 2

F58 S. 105(7BA) inserted (6.4.2005) by Employment Relations Act 2004 (c. 24), ss. 41(4), 59(2)-(4); S.I. 2005/872, arts. 4, 5, Sch. (subject to arts. 6-12)

F59 S. 105(7BB) inserted (6.4.2010 for certain purposes and otherwise prosp.) by Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 (c. 22), ss. 40, 269(4), Sch. 1 para. 3; S.I. 2010/303, art. 4, Sch. 3 (with arts. 8-14) (as amended by S.I. 2010/1151, art. 22)

F60 S. 105(7C) inserted (24.4.2000) by 1999 c. 26, s. 16, Sch. 5 para. 5(3); S.I. 2000/875, art. 2 (with transitional provision in art. 3)

F61 S. 105(7D) inserted after subsection (7C) (15.1.2000) by virtue of S.I. 1999/3323, reg. 29(1)

F62 S. 105(7E) inserted (1.7.2000) by S.I. 2000/1551, reg. 10, Sch. para. 2(1)

F63 S. 105(7F) inserted (1.10.2002) by The Fixed-term Employees (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/2034), reg. 11, Sch. 2 Pt. 1 para. 3(10) (with regs. 13-20 and subject to transitional provisions in Sch. 2 Pt. 2)

F64 S. 105(7G) inserted (8.10.2004) by The European Public Limited-Liability Company Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/2326), regs. 1(2), 43(1)(b)

F65 S. 105(7H) inserted (6.4.2005) by The Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/3426), regs. 1(1), 31(1)(b) (with reg. 3)

F66 S. 105(7I) inserted (6.4.2006) by The Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Consultation by Employers and Miscellaneous Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/349), regs. 1(3), 17, Sch. para. 6(b)

F67 S. 105(7IA) inserted (6.4.2007) by The Employment Equality (Age) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/825), reg. 3(2)

F68 S. 105(7IA) omitted (6.4.2011) by virtue of The Employment Equality (Repeal of Retirement Age Provisions) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/1069), reg. 3(4) (with regs. 5, 6, 9)

F69 S. 105(7J) inserted (18.8.2006) by The European Cooperative Society (Involvement of Employees) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/2059), reg. 32(1)(b)

F70 S. 105(7JA) inserted (30.6.2012) by Pensions Act 2008 (c. 30), ss. 57(4), 149(1); S.I. 2012/1682, art. 2, Sch. 2

F71 S. 105(7K) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Companies, Limited Liability Partnerships and Partnerships (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/348), reg. 2, Sch. 3 para. 6; 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F72 S. 105(7L) inserted (1.10.2009) by The European Public Limited-Liability Company (Employee Involvement) (Great Britain) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/2401), reg. 30(2) (with reg. 41)

F73 S. 105(7M) inserted (2.3.2010) by The Employment Relations Act 1999 (Blacklists) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/493), reg. 12(3)(b)

F74 S. 105(7N) substituted (6.4.2020) by The Agency Workers (Amendment) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/794), regs. 1(1), 8(2) (with reg. 7)

106 Replacements. E+W+S

(1) Where this section applies to an employee he shall be regarded for the purposes of section 98(1)(b) as having been dismissed for a substantial reason of a kind such as to justify the dismissal of an employee holding the position which the employee held.

(2) This section applies to an employee where—

(a) on engaging him the employer informs him in writing that his employment will be terminated on the resumption of work by another employee who is, or will be, absent wholly or partly because of pregnancy or childbirth, [F75 or on adoption leave][F76 or [F77 shared parental leave]] and

(b) the employer dismisses him in order to make it possible to give work to the other employee.

(3) This section also applies to an employee where—

(a) on engaging him the employer informs him in writing that his employment will be terminated on the end of a suspension of another employee from work on medical grounds or maternity grounds (within the meaning of Part VII), and

(b) the employer dismisses him in order to make it possible to allow the resumption of work by the other employee.

(4) Subsection (1) does not affect the operation of section 98(4) in a case to which this section applies.

Textual Amendments

F75 Words in s. 106(2)(a) inserted (8.12.2002) by Employment Act 2002 (c. 22), s. 53, Sch. 7 para. 35; S.I. 2002/2866, art. 2(2), Sch. 1 Pt. 2

F76 Words in s. 106(2)(a) inserted (6.4.2010) by Work and Families Act 2006 (c. 18), ss. 11, 19, Sch. 1 para. 42; S.I. 2010/495, art. 4(d)

F77 Words in s. 106(2)(a) substituted (1.12.2014) by Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), s. 139(6), Sch. 7 para. 40; S.I. 2014/1640, art. 5(2)(n) (with art. 12)

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

(1) This section applies where there falls to be determined for the purposes of this Part a question—

(a) as to the reason, or principal reason, for which an employee was dismissed,

(b) whether the reason or principal reason for which an employee was dismissed was a reason fulfilling the requirement of section 98(1)(b), or

(c) whether an employer acted reasonably in treating the reason or principal reason for which an employee was dismissed as a sufficient reason for dismissing him.

(2) In determining the question 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 the question shall be determined as if no such pressure had been exercised.