Verbal warning
As part of a disciplinary procedure this is generally a first warning. It may be followed by a further written warning if the employee’s performance does not improve.
Archives
Vicarious liability
This is where an employer is responsible for the unlawful acts of his/her employees as if she/he carried them out him/herself, regardless of whether she/he knew or approved of those acts. In the employment field, it is mainly relevant to discrimination law.
Victimisation
This is a form of prohibited discrimination under the Equality Act 2010 where an employer retaliates against a person because that person did or may do a protected act. See “Protected Act”. For example, dismissing someone because they had previously complained of racial discrimination would be an act of victimisation.
Void
A legal term meaning that a term in a contract is not valid. An example would be a contract stating that the employee would be paid less than the national minimum wage.