University ignored reinstatement order: senior lecturer awarded £107,000
A senior lecturer unfairly dismissed by the University of Huddersfield was awarded over £107,000 after the university refused to comply with a tribunal order to reinstate him.
1 min read · Last updated 18 May 2026
Case details
- #unfair-dismissal
- #reinstatement-order
- #non-compliance
- #additional-award
- #statutory-cap
Key facts
- The claimant was unfairly dismissed from his post as senior lecturer on 16 January 2020.
- The Tribunal ordered reinstatement by 10 August 2021, but the respondent did not comply.
- The respondent conceded it was not practicable to comply with the reinstatement order.
- The claimant's proven losses to 27 July 2021 were £65,678.20, with future loss to age 60 over £171,000.
- The Tribunal made an additional award of 52 weeks' pay (£27,300) and a compensatory award of £67,469.78.
Timeline
-
Dismissal
The claimant's employment was terminated.
-
Liability hearing
The Tribunal found the dismissal unfair.
-
Remedy hearing (first)
The Tribunal ordered reinstatement by 10 August 2021.
-
Judgment sent
The reinstatement order was sent to parties.
-
Respondent's letter
Respondent offered financial settlement, indicating non-compliance.
-
Reinstatement deadline
Respondent failed to reinstate.
-
Remedy hearing (second)
Tribunal made additional and compensatory awards.
The legal issue
Whether the employer had satisfied the tribunal that it was not practicable to comply with a reinstatement order, and what additional award should be made for non-compliance.
The outcome
The tribunal had already found the dismissal unfair and ordered reinstatement. The university conceded it was not practicable to comply, so the tribunal moved to compensation.
- Basic award: £11,025
- Compensatory award: £67,469.78
- Additional award (52 weeks' pay): £27,300
- Total: £107,794.78
Lessons & takeaways
- If a tribunal orders reinstatement, the employer must comply unless it is genuinely impracticable – offering a financial settlement does not count.
- Non-compliance with a reinstatement order can lead to a substantial additional award of up to 52 weeks' pay on top of normal compensation.
- Length of service and future loss projections can significantly increase the compensatory award, especially for older employees with long careers ahead.
When reinstatement is ordered but ignored
This case shows what happens when an employer refuses to comply with a tribunal's reinstatement order. The senior lecturer had been unfairly dismissed, and the tribunal ordered the University of Huddersfield to reinstate him by a specific date. Instead, the university wrote to the lecturer offering a financial settlement, effectively admitting it would not comply.
The consequences of non-compliance
The tribunal had to decide whether it was 'practicable' for the university to reinstate the lecturer. The university argued it was not, but the tribunal found that the university had not provided sufficient evidence of impracticability. As a result, the tribunal made an additional award of 52 weeks' pay – the maximum allowed – on top of the usual compensatory award. The total compensation came to over £107,000, reflecting the lecturer's lost earnings from dismissal to the hearing date and projected future losses up to age 60.
What this means for similar claims
Employers cannot simply ignore a reinstatement order and hope to pay their way out. The additional award is designed to penalise non-compliance and to deter employers from treating tribunal orders as optional. For employees, this case highlights that a reinstatement order is a powerful remedy, and if the employer fails to comply, the financial consequences can be severe. It also shows the importance of keeping detailed records of losses, including future pension and earnings projections.
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