Unlawful dismissal: what to do in the first 7 days

If a dismissal may have involved procedural violations, start by preserving documents and recording exactly what happened. Do not sign backdated papers or rely only on verbal explanations.

1. Obtain the employer’s documents

Ask for the dismissal order, the final payment calculation, and the documents on which the employer relies. Keep your employment agreement, job description, internal messages, and earlier orders.

The stated ground for dismissal matters. Its legality must be assessed from the documents and the specific circumstances, not only from what either side says.

2. Preserve evidence

• export work correspondence that you may lawfully retain;
• record dates of conversations and the participants;
• keep payslips and proof of payment;
• do not alter original documents.

3. Check deadlines promptly

Employment disputes may be subject to special filing periods. When a period starts and how long it lasts depend on the claim and the documents you received. Check the current law or show the documents to a lawyer promptly.

Preparing for the first conversation with a lawyer

Write a short timeline, list the available documents, and note the amounts paid or withheld. This makes it easier to distinguish a procedural violation from a dispute that may require court action.