In February, in an astounding decision ( Dunnachie v Kingston Upon Hull City Council), the Court of Appeal overturned case law that was thought to have been settled for more than 30 years and decided that employment tribunals did, after all, have the power to award compensation for non-economic losses in ordinary unfair dismissal cases.
Typically, this may include compensation for mental distress, humiliation and damage to reputation in the community or to family life. For the first time since the law of unfair dismissal was enacted in the Industrial Relations Act 1971, tribunals now, effectively, have the power to make these awards
