Hello, I’m just looking for some advice. My dad was diagnosed with stage 4 squamous cell carcinoma of the right mandible in January 2024. He had an operation to remove the tumour and his right jaw bone and replace with part of his fibula in February. He recovered well from this operation however also needed some chemo and radiotherapy for 6 weeks which is due to finish in 3 days. Throughout his difficult treatment the main thing which has kept him going and motivated is the thought of going back to work.
My dads a long distance lorry driver and started with the company in November 2023. He had a 12 month probationary period. He previously worked with the same company from 2018-2021. He then had to go off sick from the end of January 2024 due to tiredness due to his tumour and In preparation for his major surgery. He has been on statutory sick pay since this. Today he went on his emails to find a letter attached in which it said the company were terminating his employment with one weeks notice. Are they allowed to do this even though my dads time off work has been due to health reasons completely out of his control and as I said the thought of going back to a job he absolutely loves has given him so much motivation with his treatment and to continue to get better.
is there anything we can do ? Does he have any grounds to challenge this even though he was on his 12 month probationary period