RS Components Ltd v RE Irwin

The facts

Mr Irwin was dismissed from his job as a salesman after refusing to accept a new contract of employment, embodying a covenant restricting his operating in competition with the company for one year after leaving the company's employ. A Sheffield Industrial Tribunal held that the company failed to prove that this was a reason which could be said to fall within s.24(1)(b) of the IR Act — ie that it was "some other substantial reason of a kind such as to justify dismissal".