Unlawful sackings admitted by 80% of bosses

New research has revealed that 80 per cent of employers have resorted to firing someone on the spot - despite such an action possibly falling foul of the law.

Employment law firm Peninsula conducted the survey - which may be of interest to those seeking interim recruitment – polling 459 workers who had experienced being dismissed from their positions, according to Online Recruitment.

Peninsula's head of employee relations Deb Gibbons is quoted by the website as saying: "It is amazing that some employers, despite the age of protected employee rights, fire people on the spot."

"A disgruntled employee may decide to take their complaint to court and it could go very wrong for the employer resulting in substantial penalties imposed at a tribunal hearing," she added.

Further results showed that of the respondents, 63 per cent claimed to have experienced being fired on the spot with no written or verbal warning and no chance to appeal the decision.

Established in 1983, Peninsula represents the employment law interests of over 20,000 employers.