'Text message dismissal' prompts mhl support to warn against casual approach to employment law

Staffordshire-based employment law specialists mhl support has urged employers not to lapse into the habit of 'convenience communication' and to retain professional procedures.

The move follows the case this week whereby waitress Jayne Price was awarded £60,000 after suing her employer the Steak and Omelette Bar in Plymouth for sexual harassment and discriminatory dismissal.

After making complaints of sexual harassment to her boss Alex Psaras, Mrs Price was sacked by a text message from Mr Psaras which read: "I think it is best you don't come back to work."

Marc Schroder, chief executive of mhl support, said Mr Psaras' first oversight was that no investigation was undertaken into the harassment claims.

"It is essential in any business to take even the most minor allegation seriously and to follow the official channels. Correct employment law legislation and procedures are in place for a reason: to protect employer and employee alike.

But the most unprofessional aspect of this case is the fact that Mr Psaras effectively fired Mrs Price by text. We live in a very technologically advanced world and we have all embraced the 'convenience communication' methods of texts and emails; but a business has to maintain professional procedures.

"A text message as a form of dismissal is totally unacceptable. Firstly, some kind of disciplinary procedure precedes a dismissal, and that should be conveyed effectively through official channels. Professionalism is paramount and as a result of his casual approach, Mr Psaras could be faced with losing his company," said Mr Schroder.

Speaking after the case, Mr Psaras said: ‘I sent her the most expensive text ever sent. It could ruin my whole business."

Mr Schroder added: "We would advise all employers to learn from cases such as these and always consult a specialist. We recognise that it is unlikely, without specialist advice, that employers will always know what action to take. If Mr Psaras had used mhl's support line he would have been able to access indemnified advice to have protected his business from this worst case scenario."