Valid reason to dismiss, but rushed process made sacking unfair
Executive Take
A good reason to fire someone still isn't enough. Skip the proper process and you pay anyway, even when the employee was clearly in the wrong.
Executive Summary
A tribunal found an employer had valid grounds to dismiss a ship's skipper after incidents including sleeping on duty, food being dumped overboard, and crew left unsupervised at the helm. Despite valid cause, the dismissal was ruled unfair because the process was rushed, resulting in a payout to the employee.
Why It Matters
HR leaders should note that misconduct alone never protects against an unfair dismissal claim. Process discipline, not just proof of wrongdoing, is what courts and tribunals actually check.
Bizquad Perspective
Most leaders think a strong case justifies speed, but this ruling shows speed is exactly what turns a strong case into an expensive loss.