James Lloyd commenced his four- year maintenance technician apprenticeship with Federal-Mogul Sintered Products Ltd in August 2000; however he was dismissed after three years due to his alleged poor attendance record.
A Birmingham Employment Tribunal decided that Mr. Lloyd, who had signed a "modern apprenticeship pledge", was wrongfully dismissed. Furthermore, it found that the company had not conducted its disciplinary hearing fairly.
£20,000 of the award was awarded as compensation for the breach of his apprenticeship contact, with the further £4,000 awarded for unfair dismissal.
Employers should ensure that they take advice before dismissing an apprentice before the completion of an apprenticeship contract. |
