Can DH be fired for this?

[TimeToSellAKidney]

DH has taken a work-related exam today for the second time, & failed. He's devastated and very worried that he'll lose his job.

I don't think they can fire him but I'm not HR expert & Google isn't helping me. I think the worst case scenario is no further funded training & no scope for promotion? Can anyone put his mind at ease.

He is not on a training contract and it's not accountancy (I know you can be fired from trainee accountancy roles for fails).

He's worked for the company for around 4 years but recently changed role & team.

First fail was when DS was 6 weeks old, DH had recently returned from paternity leave & started a new role so not great timing.

He's studied really hard this time (supported by me doing pretty much all the child, pet & house stuff to enable him to study evenings and weekends too) so he's very upset. He did do better than the first attempt though.

DH is also not feeling too well, and I've just tested positive for covid (!) so he will test as soon as he gets home (he felt ok when he left, tired but had put that down to having a young baby).

It depends - is his new role dependent on him having this qualification? If so then yes, it could be a capabilities issue in which case he could be let go.

however, if it’s a qualification he’s taking in order to improve his future prospects and not his job for right now i don’t think so?

Depends on the role and what his contract says, I'm a teacher and mine says I can be dismissed for not achieving mandatory qualifications.

Honestly nobody can tell you. It will depend on his employer, his contract, their policies, whether they like him enough to give him another chance or would honestly like a chance to get rid. He’ll need to discuss it with his work.

In my role I would have to pass a qualification in a set time or I wouldn't be able to do it. Not just a company policy, regulations require it. Company would pay for first take and then you pay for any subsequent takes if you fail. Colleagues have left before as they haven't passed in time. It's in our contract, so depends what his says really.

I think it really depends on whether it's a qualification that is required for the role.

No one can advise you without specifics, sorry.

This. So it really depends. He may have xx amount of time to achieve the qualification for example, which might mean he keeps his job but has to self fund the next time, etc. He needs to check his Terms and Conditions of Employment.

is his new role dependent on him having this qualification

No - it was actually originally planned as part of his old role but, as the teams work closely together and often lend staff to each other, they decided to still go ahead with it, as it would be useful to have someone with that qualification.

It's not a mandatory qualification.

Honestly nobody can tell you. It will depend on his employer, his contract, their policies, whether they like him enough to give him another chance or would honestly like a chance to get rid. He’ll need to discuss it with his work

Thank you. I'm quite sure they don't want rid - they are struggling to recruit to vacancies and his manager seems to be supportive of him developing, taking on new responsibilities and steering him towards a promotion.
He's going to set up a chat tomorrow with his manager though.

DH's manager actually messaged him yesterday evening (in response to DH asking for time for a chat soon) to say his position is in no way at risk. Huge relief!
DH is still a bit gutted but we've chatted through it and he seems more positive about things now.

If he has Covid when taking the exam, can he submit mitigation and ask for a further opportunity to resit?