An employer can not repair a fundamental breach of contract. It is up to the employee whether to resign and claim constructive unfair dismissal.

Buckland v Bournemouth University Higher Education Corp [2010] EWCA Civ 121

www.workrep.co.uk

    Helping You     About     Links     Contact     Site Info     HOME

01/03/2010

  • Once an employer has fundamentally undermined a contract there is no way back by way of making amends or reaffirming the contract. It is for the employee to decide whether to accept the breach or affirm the contract (i.e. stay put and carry on working or resign and claim constructive unfair dismissal).
  • The "range of reasonable responses" test does not apply where an employer has committed a fundamental breach of the employment contract.
  • Cases should not normally be remitted back to a tribunal or lower court as this increases costs and prolongs cases.

The Court of Appeal decided to overturn the EAT's decision that where a breach of contract had occurred, it would be possible for an employer to 'cure' that breach any time up until the employee decided to accept the breach and resign.

According to the earlier EAT ruling, if an employer managed to make up for any discretion before the employee resigned, the employee would not then have the right to resign and claim unfair constructive dismissal.

The Court of Appeal based its decison in that allowing repair to an employement breach would necessarily have to be extended to other areas of contract. This would not be justifiable.

This decision does not affect the need for workers to act pretty promptly when deciding whether to resign after a fundamental breach of contract has been made by an employer.

If a worker carries on working for too long the right to resign will lapse. If you are in such a situation seek legal advice immediately.

The transcript of this case follows:-  

Buckland v Bournemouth University Higher Education Corp [2010] EWCA Civ 121



Some recent employment cases:-
2010
A worker can not claim constructive dismissal if he is in breach of the duty of trust and confidence - Bateman & Ors v. Asda Stores Ltd [2010] UKEAT 0221_09_1102
A worker can not claim constructive dismissal if he is in breach of the duty of trust and confidence - Aberdeen City Council v McNeill [2009] UKEAT 0037_08_1011
BA dress code forbidding the open display of faith symbols was not discriminatory - Eweida v British Airways Plc [2010] EWCA Civ 80
When deciding whether to allow an amendment the lateness of the application is only one factor to be taken into account by the employment judge - Baker v The Commissioner of Police of The Metropolis [2010] UKEAT 0201_09_0502
National courts should should strike down discriminatory legislation - Seda Kücükdeveci v Swedex GmbH & Co. KG [2010] ECJCase C-555/07
Judges restrict employers' use of the illegality defence against employee unfair dismissal claims - SAN LING CHINESE MEDICINE CENTRE v LIAN WEI JI - [2010] EAT UKEAT/0370/09/ZT
There is a right to legal representation at a disciplinary which might result in the loss of the right to practise a profession - G, R (on the application of) v X School & Ors [2010] EWCA Civ 1
Cabin crew spending 5% of their time in the UK were considered to have worked partly at an establishment in Great Britain. - BA v Mak EAT [2010] UKEAT/0055/09/SM
The 'genuine occupational requirement' rule may apply to a maximum age for employment - Wolf v Stadt Frankfurt am Main [2010] Case C-229/08 ECJ
Different dress codes do not necessarily amount to sex discrimination - Dansie v. The Commissioner of Police for The Metropolis [2009] UKEAT
Certain conditions must exist for the obligation to carry out a risk assessment for a pregnant worker to arise - ONeill v. Buckinghamshire County Council [2010] UKEAT

2009
An employment tribunal may decide if a compromise decision is unenforcable - Industrious Ltd v Horizon Recruitment Ltd & Anor [2009] UKEAT
Registrar claiming right to refuse to officiate at civil weddings loses religious discrimination case - Ladele v London Borough of Islington [2009] EWCA Civ 1357
A philosophical belief based on science is protected by the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003 - Grainger Plc v Nicholson [2009] UKEAT/0219/09/ZT
Christian counsellor who would not help same sex couples was not discriminated against - McFarlane v Relate Avon Ltd [2009] UKEAT 0106_09_3011
Under TUPE the obligation to inform always applies, even when no measures are contemplated relating to the transfer - Cable Realisations Ltd v GMB Northern [2009] UKEAT
The Court of Appeal rules on Harassment and 'Oppressive and Unacceptable' behaviour
Veakins v Kier Islington Ltd [2009] EWCA Civ 1288
For s4A(3) of the DDA to apply the employer must have known (or ought to have known) that the employee was disabled and that the disability would affect him in the manner described in section 4A(1) - DWP v Alam [2009] UKEAT 0242_09_0911
A discrimination case may not proceed on the mere possibility that evidence might emerge during cross examination - ABN Amro Management Services v Hogben [2009] UKEAT 0266_09_0111
In cases of discriminatory dismissal tribunals may reduce compensation if the worker would in any event have been dismissed - Chagger v Abbey National Plc & Anor [2009] EWCA Civ 1202

Do you have a problem at work? Are you being discriminated against harassed or victimised at work or have you been unfairly dismissed or wrongfully dismissed? If you are suffering from bullying victimisation or discrimination at work you need to contact WorkRep early on. Whatever your employment problem is, even if you have failed in your tribunal case and there is now a costs application against you we will try to help. click for further information about problems at work
Disclaimer: articles and information published by WorkRep.co.uk are for general information purposes only.  Please read the site info before using this website  © 2009 Workrep