Mr Taylor was a chartered accountant, employed as an administrator by the SouthEastern Train Company, a division of
British Rail. It was
privatised and sold to
Connex South Eastern in 1996. In 1997 he got a new job as Deputy Company Secretary, but on his new contract he made amendments, amounting to a counter offer in contract, therefore, according to the EAT, remaining employed under the terms of his old agreement. In 1998 he was given, according to ongoing changes throughout the company, another new contract, which contained clauses that were to his detriment (he lost some holiday and redundancy entitlement). He complained, but the company would not budge. They insisted he accept the terms or have three weeks notice. The tribunal found that he was redundant, but that he was dismissed not for this but for 'some other substantial reason' under s 98 of the
Employment Rights Act 1996. He therefore lost his claim for unfair dismissal. He appealed. ==Judgment==