Dismissed without warning: a charity's redundancy process that fell short

A redundancy that was real, but rushed

This case shows that even when an employer has a genuine financial reason to make a role redundant, cutting corners on process can still lead to a finding of unfair dismissal. The claimant, a social media and marketing officer at a small charity, was dismissed by letter with no prior warning or consultation. The trustees had decided the night before that her role was redundant due to lost grant funding.

What went wrong

The charity, Beyond Reflections, had only six employees and was under financial pressure. But the tribunal made clear that size does not excuse a complete failure to consult. The claimant was not given any opportunity to discuss alternatives, such as reduced hours or redeployment. The dismissal letter arrived without any prior conversation about redundancy.

Why the result matters

The compensation was modest — £640 — reflecting the short service and the fact that the redundancy was genuine. But the case is a reminder that procedural fairness is not optional. For employees in similar situations, the key takeaway is that a lack of consultation can make an otherwise genuine redundancy unfair. For employers, the message is clear: even in difficult circumstances, a fair process is essential.