Subject: Employment Advice for Ms Charlotte James Ref: CJ/3956521
Meeting with a new client, Ms Charlotte James (84 Jupiter Close, Cardiff, CF8 1TG).
Ms James was employed as an Architect for a company called A2Z Limited. She started working for the company on 22nd February 2018. However, she was summarily dismissed on 15th April 2021. Ms James has always enjoyed her work. She has a clean disciplinary record and her appraisals have always been good.
A week prior to her dismissal Ms James became engaged to her long-term boyfriend. When she told her work colleagues a co-worker called Ben Appleton said: Βoh well another one bites the dust!Β Ms James was a little taken aback by this comment but ignored it; she has never really got along with Mr Appleton as they are often in competition with one another for upcoming work projects.
On 15th April 2021 Ms James was called into a meeting with her manager, Mr Lance Truman. During this meeting, Mr Truman alleged that Ms James had been fraudulen
tly claiming expenses. Ms James tried to protest her innocence; she denies ever fraudulently claiming expenses. She asserts that whenever she has claimed company expenses it has always been in accordance with the companyΒs Expenses Policy. She also confirmed that the only expenses she has ever claimed is business mileage when she had to drive to business appointments. However, Mr Truman would not listen and summarily dismissed her. Ms James has heard nothing from the company since.
I have checked and there is no company Disciplinary and Dismissal Policy for A2Z Limited. However, Ms James does have a 3-month notice period in her contract.
Please draft a letter to Ms James specifying:
what claims she may have against A2Z Limited; and
what compensation she would likely be awarded if she was successful in such claims.
Please assume that Ms James meets all eligibility requirements. You are also not required to undertake specific calculations in respect of likely compensation to be awarded.