22/09/2014
Constructive Dismissal
Questions are often asked around constructive dismissal - what is it? Employees relate a certain situation and ask the question “can I claim constructive dismissal”? - and employers ask the
question “the employee has resigned and is claiming a constructive dismissal – what do we do?”
Firstly, let us understand what it is - and it could be many things. The basics are that constructive dismissal may be defined as “a situation in the workplace, which has been created by the employer, and which renders the continuation of the employment relationship intolerable for the employee - to such an extent that the employee as no other option available but to resign.”
In Pretoria Society for the Care of the Re****ed v Loots [1997] 6 BLLR 721 (LAC), the Court referred to Jooste v Transnet Ltd t/a SA Airways (1995) 16 ILJ 629 (LAC), stating that the first test was whether, when resigning, there was no other motive for the resignation - in other words, the employee would have continued the employment relationship indefinitely had it not been for the employer’s unacceptable conduct.
It went further to state that when any employee resigns and claims constructive dismissal, he is in fact stating that under the intolerable situation created by the employer, he can no longer continue to work, and has construed that the employer's behaviour amounts to a repudiation of the employment contract. In view of the employer's repudiation, the employee terminates the contract.
In addition, in bringing such a dispute, it is for the employee to prove that the employer was responsible for introducing the intolerable condition, and for the employee to prove that there was no other way of resolving the issue except for resignation. It is not for the employer (respondent) to show that he did not introduce any intolerable condition - it is for the employee to show that he did.
There have been many referrals of constructive dismissal to the CCMA which have not succeeded - because the applicant has failed to prove the introduction of any intolerable working condition, amounting to repudiation by the employer of the employment contract. Referrals based on salary increases not been granted, bonuses refused, unfavourable work performance assessment, overlooked for promotion, and so on - such referrals are bound not to succeed, because the applicant is unable to prove that the employer's action amounted to a repudiation of the employment contract, or introduced a condition that was irremediable.
