Unfair dismissal

jooles18

Hi can anyone please tell me how long an employer has to respond to an appeal once it has been sent. my husband has appealed against his employer for unfair dismissal and we are not sure how long they have to respond.
many thanks
julie

langsmith

Hi, I'm not sure of the company size but I think this information should be in the Grievance Policy statement. Most acknowledge receipt of your appeal notification asap, with indication of timelines involved. Do you have a copy of the Grievance policy? If the answer is no, get a copy, and stick to the process set out.

Bryndis

Be aware that some delay a response in the hope that you will be out of time to proceed to an ET. You can proceed without a response, and make their lack of response part of the claim.

dickydonkin

If the appeal was not handed in personallly and was sent by post - hopefully you sent it by recorded delivery.

It is so easy for the employer to state they have not received an appeal within the required time - particularly if it has been sent by unrecorded post.

langsmith

dpassmore wrote: »

If the appeal was not handed in personallly and was sent by post - hopefully you sent it by recorded delivery.

It is so easy for the employer to state they have not received an appeal within the required time - particularly if it has been sent by unrecorded post.

Send an email to HR if time is limited, it will do, but ring to ensure they have received it once sent. ALSO copy in the HR Director.

jooles18

Thanks to everyone that replied. In the grievance policy they do not state how long they have to respond. Can he start procedings with a lawyer without hearing from them first?
Thanks again

longhauladdict

Hi

The law states reasonable time, most companies stick to a 5 or 10 day rule in which they can respond. however they will need to hold a meeting to hear his appeal and then they have a further reasonable length of time to issue their response.
I would re-send, ensuring that you get a read receipt if sending via email or recorded del if posting.
However none of this stops you going to a ET, but if you have failed to follow an appeal process, (and can't evidence that you sent the letter/it was recieved) then any reward can be reduced by up to 25%.

HTH