COVID-19: dismissal for refusing to agree variation to employment contract is unfair

Crises such as a pandemic can push employers to try to introduce changes to employees' contractual terms and even, as in Khatun v. Winn Solicitors Ltd ET/2501492/2020, to dismiss, if an employee does not accept the change. This case reminds us that no matter how critical and urgent the situation, and even if the proposed change might be a reasonable measure in the circumstances, employers must still act reasonably and follow a fair process if they are going to treat refusal to agree the change as justifying dismissal.

By Helena Rozman

If you are dismissed for a COVID-19 related absence, could this be automatically unfair?

By Nuri Mirwani

Dismissal for refusing to wear face mask can be fair

Over the past year, face masks have become an ordinary part of life and it was only a matter of time before they became the focus of a workplace dispute. In the first such dispute to reach a tribunal, Kubilius v Kent Foods Ltd (ET/3201960/2020), an employment tribunal found that a lorry driver was dismissed fairly for his refusal to wear a face mask on a client's premises.

By Kate Coppack

Unfair dismissal

Unfair dismissal