BOSSES under pressure from the recession are landing in hot water by taking a tough line with tardy employees, according to a firm of employment law experts.

Lateness costs British businesses £1.8 billion every year and stressed UK bosses are cracking down, with one in six prepared to sack an employee for being late just two or three times, a survey has found.

Now employment law firm Lewis Hymanson Small is warning firms to stay within the rules.

It says documented, objective, fair warnings must be given in writing and the employee must have the chance to correct any issues.

In legal terms, being late for work comes under general misconduct and doesn’t warrant dismissal for a first offence.

Bosses who don’t follow the rules could end up at an Employment Tribunal and be ordered to reinstate or re-engage the employee in a similar post, or more commonly, give financial compensation to the employee.

The warning comes as the Tribunal Service publishes figures showing a sharp increase in the number of employment tribunal cases brought against employers.

Over the past year, employment tribunal cases have risen from 151,000 to 236,100, a 56% rise.

Neeta Laing, head of Lewis Hymanson Small, said: “If you want to dismiss an employee, follow the rules and avoid tribunal claims. Employment legislation is a minefield with many employers still unsure how to dismiss an employee properly. Employees should be given a verbal or written warning in the first instance.

The firm took its figures from research carried out by careerbuilder.co.uk