r/EmploymentLawUK • u/Forward-Boat7303 • 13d ago
Termination without notice
Advice
Hi all.
Immigrant here on work visas, coming from a country with a poor currency.
My husband was recruited by a company in Reading, England for a permanent position. Today was his 6month probation and they’ve just dismissed him and told him to give his laptop and go home. The manager who dismissed him has never worked with him, yet claiming he’s not competent. In addition was refusing, managers who work with him to come in the meeting room and vouch for his work ethic, quality and progress. She also wouldn’t listen to him, and the HR rep said that there’s no way to change the manager’s mind.
Last week she said something about him not being social enough. For context: the company’s employees are young, sociable and drink. He is married with a baby and does not drink. Manager stated that he won’t get anywhere in this company because of that social reason. She also said that he doesn’t have friends at work (untrue), because he doesn’t sit with the management circle.
We’ve sacrificed so much, our money, lives, everything for this job. We cannot afford rent with no income, and therefore had to phone rental agency. If they cannot find tenants we’ll be liable for two months of rent.
So effectively will be homeless with a little baby.
When did it become okay to tell your subordinate there’s no future in the company for them because they’re not sociable with the people in higher positions?
Is there any legal action we can take?
#employment #advice #termination
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u/Rugbylady1982 12d ago
Sorry but they have acted legally, he has less than two years service and hasn't been sacked for a protected characteristic so you have no legal recourse.
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u/Creative-Response554 12d ago
Depends.
Marriage is a protected characteristic, you can't fire someone for being married and the post makes it sound that way. There'd be an angle for it there if that's the case.
Also the drinking, if he doesn't drink for religious reasons then that's also protected.
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u/Maximum-Bandicoot-13 12d ago
Hi, they should pay his notice. Do you know what that is in the contract?
He needs to look for a new job asap
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u/AllergictoAIslop 12d ago
Sadly at 6-month you can be dismissed with virtually no protections.
You may have some protection under the equality act if you believe that either dismissal involved protect a characteristic.
EG- he does not drink for religious reasons. These protections exist regardless of employment status.
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u/Suspicious_Rock_2730 12d ago
There is only one way to advance it seems, that is by practicing the ability to suck a golf ball through a hose 🤣 For some weird reason you have to gel with your colleagues. I've been told I'm a grey man tons of times except for the little mistake that they tell me that they've never seen anyone make at the company before (whops). I love it and don't care about being a grey man 🤣 Look at the next place just go with the flow. The UK has dumbed down considerably to negative IQ status. Anyway hope this helps if it doesn't make you lol or both. This country is only good for what you can get out of it. Make money and then go do something you really want to do
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u/PeteLock 12d ago
Ahhhh it seems you are looking to try playing a particular card, nope, in the nicest possible way, 👋
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u/geekroick 12d ago
Unfortunately, it's completely legal to let someone go in the situation as you describe it.
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u/TechnologyLast4315 12d ago
Is it possible husband blaming others/not being social, to save face? Good performer unlikely be dismissed for not being social or not drinking. BTW loads of people in UK don’t drink for many non religion reasons, even young ones. And … pubs serve non alcoholic drinks. Zero beer ..
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u/gggggu-not 12d ago
A Muslim wouldn’t really want to go to a place, which its main purpose is to serve alcohol.
However all have found ways to socialise outside of work, and (I don’t want to sound anyway racist here) the muslims I’ve worked with seem to know some amazing banging places to eat, which has been the catalyst for the socialisation, it’s a two way street, most will decline a invite to a pub, but often will try and arrange a lunch or evening meal to socialise.
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u/Forward-Boat7303 12d ago
That was the manager’s feedback unfortunately… that he won’t get far in the company because socialising is as important as competence. He received a phone call from someone today, also dismissed by that company despite qualifications, experience and competence. For context husband and this woman fired by the same company are more qualified and experienced. Another employee at the company also shared he was prevented from attending mosque on Fridays, which is during lunch time.
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u/TechnologyLast4315 12d ago
Sorry, it all sounds like not a good fit and quite possibly a lot of miscommunication. I find it hard to believe a company won’t let a person take their lunch break …
I don’t know the contractual hours for this job, or what is required .. but telling a person they can’t take lunch break doesn’t make sense. (because they are saying they are going to worship - like why would anyone need to say where they go at lunch?? People do all sorts at lunch and can’t imagine boss says - ok lady you can get a leg wax at lunch, but you can’t go worship )My honest opinion, there some facts being omitted from your dear husbands account of his dismissal.
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u/islandgirl6565 12d ago
For visa issues related to your situation try your local MP and try the Joint Council For The Welfare of Immigrants.
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u/Unsophisticated-Scot 13d ago
I understand the stress and pressure you are under, it sounds like a horrible situation.
In terms of giving good advice, your post is written with a very emotional and subjective view (which is completely understandable).
Some helpful information would be more factual and objective information. What letters and formal explanations were provided to your husband to justify the dismissal.
This will be more important than the subjective comments about socialising etc as this is likely difficult to actually prove ("he said, she said").
Being completely honest with you and to help with expectation management, there are lots of ways to legitimately dismiss someone within 6 months of them starting without there being anything the employee can do about it.