I’m back, with another story about the unbelievable states golf clubs get themselves into!
In this particularly story, we’re on the employee’s side of the fence, rather than the Club.
“Bob” was supposed to meet up with the chairman on Friday afternoon to have his weekly catch up meeting.
However, on this occasion he walked into the room to find an HR person there with the chairman.
The Club does not have a retained HR company (although they probably should).
The chairman remained silent whilst HR proceeded to tell Bob that he had been made redundant, that his employment ended immediately (being paid in lieu of notice) and he would receive his contractual 3 months notice and £3k statutory redundancy payment.
He walked out in a daze, and then called me for help.
I reassured him that he had been unfairly treated, he did have a claim and the Club had done it all wrong:
- Bob had been there for 4 years, so was protected from unfair dismissal;
- There had been no consultation process (3 weeks is considered fair and reasonable)
- He was the only one being made redundant
- The statutory payment was incorrect
So how much could he claim?
Well, it would definitely be considered unfair dismissal, which is capped at one year’s pay or £80,541.
In addition, as no process has been followed, there is an automatic uplift of 25% on the unfair dismissal award.
So, at tribunal, he has an extremely good chance of winning, and receiving 125% of a year’s salary, plus all his legal costs paid!
And the Club would also have to pay their own legal costs on top of this!
It seems unlikely that the chairman was aware of this when he sat down with Bob last week, but when you play fast and loose with the rules, things can change very quickly.
By insisting on parting company on “his” terms, he’s actually ensured that the reverse will happen, at great expense.
If you want to change your Club manager, there are ways to do that.
Why charge in like a bull in a china shop and bring your club to its knees? Take the correct legal advice and follow it, no matter what you WANT to do!
