Tribunal warns bosses on dismissal procedures

The Employment Rights Tribunal (ERT) on Tuesday warned employers that failing to follow statutory dismissal procedures can undermine their cases before the tribunal.

ERT chairman Vere P. Brathwaite ordered Markham Construction Limited on Tuesday to pay former employee Alanna Hazell $6 576 in compensation for unfair dismissal after the company breached the relevant procedures.

“The tribunal cannot state strongly enough that failure to follow the procedures set out in Parts A and B of the Fourth Schedule is fatal to an employer’s case, notwithstanding any inaptitude or lack of appropriate conduct, real or alleged, on the part of an employee,” Brathwaite declared during an impassioned speech to the parties.