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UK Recruitment Glossary

Dismissal

Alex By Alex · 12-year UK recruiter · Updated April 2026

In recruiter context

Five flavours in UK law. Summary dismissal is instant, no notice, for gross misconduct. Ordinary dismissal is with notice, for performance or conduct. Constructive dismissal is when the employer's behaviour forces you to resign — and yes, that counts as them dismissing you for tribunal purposes. Unfair dismissal is one without a fair reason or proper process; you need 2 years' service to claim it. Redundancy is its own category. The word "dismissed" on your record sounds worse than it is — most reference checks confirm dates and role only, not the dismissal label.

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