Nevis court orders employer to pay $17,000 for wrongful dismissal of employee

A High Court Judge in Nevis has ordered an employer to pay an employee nearly EC$17,000 for wrongful dismissal. Shawn Kissoon, who began working with Select Enterprises in September 2010, was suspended until further notice on April 7, pending an investigation.

As per reports, he was never informed of the outcome of the investigation, was never charged, but received a letter from the attorney for Select Services on April 17, 2019, dismissing him from his employment due to gross misconduct.

The letter was tendered into evidence during the October 4, 2021 trial, and it did not state what this misconduct was.

In delivering judgment on January 13, 2021, Justice Moise, after examining the evidence, was of the view that Kissoon has made out his case and that he is entitled to the notice pay, along with interests and costs.

It is, therefore, ordered that: a) the defendant [Select Services] will pay the sum of $16,756.00EC (representing three months’ notice pay and the pay due to Mr Kissoon during the period of his suspension), (b) Interest at the statutory rate from the date of this judgment; and (c)Prescribed costs in the sum of $2,513.40 in keeping with the provisions of the CPR 2000."

The court ruling comes as massive relief for many others who face such harsh behaviour from their workspaces.