Two-Year Eligibility Period of Unfair Dismissals Could Have Some Unforeseen Outcomes
Jonathan Exten-Wright, a partner and employment expert at DLA Piper has warned the Government of extending the unfair dismissal rules to be problematic, as it is too prejudiced against the female working force. The lawyer cautioned the government that the changed two-year eligibility period for unfair dismissals could be disputed in the Court for making a gender bias, as it has already been witnessed being done more than a decade ago.
The lawyer cited figures, which show that quite a large number of female employees, take and leave jobs, suiting their childcare duties. This number is quite larger than the male population who tend to continue their jobs for a longer timeframe. Hence introducing a two-year eligibility period for unfair dismissals would adversely affect working women while also incidentally being biased against women.
He pointed out to a revolutionary case won by Seymour Smith against the Secretary of State for Employment in the 1999-2000 contesting the two-year eligibility period for unfair dismissals. The two-year period for unfair dismissals was introduced in 1980s. The case was contested by Seymour Smith based on the fact that the two-year period was fairly prejudiced against women. ECJ also confirmed the same, by stating that a significantly less ratio of women work for continuous two-years, thus not conforming to the very eligibility criteria. Comparatively men fare much better as they conform to this criterion by staying longer at their workplace. ECJ also noted that the unequal and biased treatment against women can be displayed to be lengthy and continuous, however a less and vague ratio would be adequate for making the verdict.
After hearing both the disputing parties, the House of Lords eventually felt that the case filed by Ms Seymour Smith was acceptable and that the two-year eligibility period for unfair dismissals was incorrect. In 1999, the eligibility period was decreased to one-year.
The lawyer also stated that increasing the eligibility period for unfair dismissals could observe a fresh and similar kind of case being brought up again against the Government.
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