09 September 2010 / Heather Platt

Issue: 7432 / Categories: Features , Disciplinary&grievance procedures , Employment

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Out for the count?

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Heather Platt revisits the law of constructive dismissal

The law of constructive dismissal has seen some interesting developments in the last two years. The well settled principles in the leading case of Western Excavations (ECC) Ltd v Sharp [1978] QB 761 CA (Civ Div), [1978] IRLR 27 have provided clear guidance to lawyers and students for 30 odd years have been somewhat in the spotlight. There has been a line of authority which sought to apply the band of reasonable responses test to constructive unfair dismissal cases.

This article will consider the line of authority leading to the Court of Appeal decision of Bournemouth University Higher Education Corporation v Buckland [2010] EWCA Civ 121, [2010] All ER (D) 299 (Feb) and the more recent Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) cases in light of Buckland.

The law

The relevant law is set out in s 95(1)(c) Employment Rights Act 1996 (ERA 1996) but in reality is a hybrid between statutory and contract law, as the employee typically seeks to rely on breach

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Out for the count?

© Copyright LexisNexis 2026. All Rights Reserved.

bell_4

Heather Platt revisits the law of constructive dismissal

The law of constructive dismissal has seen some interesting developments in the last two years. The well settled principles in the leading case of Western Excavations (ECC) Ltd v Sharp [1978] QB 761 CA (Civ Div), [1978] IRLR 27 have provided clear guidance to lawyers and students for 30 odd years have been somewhat in the spotlight. There has been a line of authority which sought to apply the band of reasonable responses test to constructive unfair dismissal cases.

This article will consider the line of authority leading to the Court of Appeal decision of Bournemouth University Higher Education Corporation v Buckland [2010] EWCA Civ 121, [2010] All ER (D) 299 (Feb) and the more recent Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) cases in light of Buckland.

The law

The relevant law is set out in s 95(1)(c) Employment Rights Act 1996 (ERA 1996) but in reality is a hybrid between statutory and contract law, as the employee typically seeks to rely on breach

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content

If you are already a subscriber sign in

...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

London Solicitors Litigation Association—John McElroy

London Solicitors Litigation Association—John McElroy

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Freezing orders in divorce proceedings can unexpectedly ensnare third parties and disrupt businesses. In NLJ this week, Lucy James of Trowers & Hamlins explains how these orders—dubbed a ‘nuclear weapon’—preserve assets but can extend far beyond spouses to companies and business partners

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