firing an employee

[ahop23]

Do you have to give someone a written notice that hyou are letting them go or is it perfectly legal to walk to someone, ask for the key, and tell them their services are no longer needed? I have my own small business so I am very concerned with the legalities surrounding this issue.

 

[Boxby]

Stop now!

If you're not already, go and join the FSB,

 

[gamecockfan]

What happened to just being able to take care of your business and telling someone that the work relationship just is not going to work out and that you need to find someone else for the position?

 

[Scottish Business Owner]

It's not as simple as that these days. As Sandra has said there are procedures and motions to go through so that you are seen to be doing things fairly. You cant simply go in one day and say hey this aint working you're out on your ear!

You must seek professional advice otherwise any tribunal could eat you alive and leave your business exposed. This aspect of law has really tightened up in the last few years so you'd do well to heed the warnings.

 

[ahop23]

Do you think that many of these types of lawsuits are frivolous and are being pushed forward due to an overall weakening economy or has this just become the nature of today's workplace and job market?

 

[Scottish Business Owner]

My experience from working in a number of companies is that the law has went a bit too far in favour of the employee. I think employers have to tread very carefully or they could face a tribunal. Sometimes they are frivolous but it costs money even to defend one so sometimes commercially it's more viable to settle then to waste time and money on fighting one.

This is why you see compromise agreements becoming more and more of the norm. Businesses would rather geat rid of someone with a golden handshake than be taken through a tribunal or have to "put up" with the employee.

 

[Boxby]

Do you think that many of these types of lawsuits are frivolous and are being pushed forward due to an overall weakening economy or has this just become the nature of today's workplace and job market?

Totally. Any employee working for a small employer is basically ensured of getting