How much would you pay for saying your piece? If your answer was £30,000 then your instincts may be on the money. That sum is exactly what an employer has had to pay out in a recent employment tribunal case, which serves as a powerful lesson on the importance of procedure, context, and keeping a cool head.

The case involved office manager Kerrie Herbert, who was fired on the spot after calling two company directors of her employer, Main Group Services Ltd, an insulting slur during a heated meeting. While the language was inappropriate, the tribunal ultimately found her dismissal was unfair, leaving her former employer with a hefty bill for compensation and legal fees.

This decision is by no means a carte blanche for employees to start calling their employers every name under the sun, but it is a critical reminder for employers that how you react is just as important as what you are reacting to.