Any mumsnetters know anything about employment law?

[KathH]

My sister has been in her job for 6 mths. She's just recovered from a nasty bout of labyrinthitus & had 3 weeks off work (all of which she had a drs note for) she went back to work about 10 days ago to be told by her manager that they needed to have a meeting with her this week. She had the meeting on Friday and was told that although they believed her & she had a drs note, they felt it was likely to be ongoing and felt they had no choice but to terminate her contract. Her probabation period finished in January. Do they not have procedures that they have to follow? She did say that she had kept in touch with the HR Dept whlst off & they'd told her not to worry & take care.

If she is passed her probation period, and they havent got an independant medical assessment, I dont think they can do this. She needs to go to the CAB i think.

Get her straight to CAB or contact ACAS - they are totally out of order. Was she given an employee handbook when she started? That should detail the way the company deals with sickness and other disciplinary matters. As a minimum they should have held a proper hearing before dismissal, the decision from which she can appeal. She can't claim unfair dismissal due to her length of service, but she should definately get advice.

FWIW - in order to dismiss someone in my company for sickness, they have to have 3 seperate occasions of absence in a 6 month period to get a warning - and there are 3 stages of warning before dismissal!