Fired for coming into work 15min late?

So what?

The only reason given was persistent lateness.

Persistent lateness is adequate reason for dismissal. That other employees were also doing so is inadequate grounds for challenge via tribunal.

On appeal, the decision would likely be overturned by a director, since it cannot be the case one employee is dismissed for punching someone, whilst 10 other employees guilty of the same offence get away with it.

Having done some research on UK employment law, there are some things which an employee can do in this situation:-

1) Reject the terms given for the termination of contract by the employer (yes, an employee can do this, it is a two way process with the employer);

2) Appeal the decision if there are reasonable grounds to do so (the appeal meeting has to be done by a more senior manager than in the termination meeting);

3) Make it clear to the employer that the employee is available to work until a final decision is made by the employer, meaning that he/she remains on the payroll until the appeal meeting has been completed.

Also, an employer cannot treat an employee less favourably than anyone else, otherwise it becomes a breach of trust and confidence between the relationship of the employer and employee in question, and a case for constructive dismissal may be made by the employee.

In a fictional world maybe. Not in the real life workplace.

You would be laughed out of a tribunal hearing with your evidence for unfair dismissal being that other employees presented the same sackable offence as you, therefore you should be reinstated.

Please put down the remote and stop frying brain cells with Hollyoaks viewing!

This is great dont forget to tell them how the directors come in late all the time and maybe mention how its unfair they are paid more than you as well.

Your terms will be take it or leave it.
You can appeal the decision, in which case they will just ring upstairs and then sack you. That will take ten minutes.

Dude you dont really have any employment rights as you havent been working long enough. They can just terminate you, unless there were some equality issues..

You cannot just read a few websites or rely on hearsay to get to grips with how complex employment law is. The best way to learn is to read up on hundreds of previous cases.

Unless you have extensive experience of employment law, or have at least read a comprehensive guide on the subject, I think you should not get involved in this topic, you sound too amateurish.

Please stop it's laughable! You are spouting text book law and sound like you have minimal real life experience within the workplace.

In reality, particularly if the company is a small private firm, the director(s) will be in agreement with the dismissal of 'your friend'. Maybe simply because he made the wrong impression and they don't like him. The reason for dismissal will be recorded as unsuccessful completion of the probationary period, or simply due to persistent lateness. If the decision is appealed the company can even argue that they are beginning to stamp out widespread bad practice within the company.

The likelihood of a tribunal judge intervening to reinstate this person is extremely low to zero. Real talk from real life observation within the workplace!

Are you an employment lawyer? No. Goodbye.