What does dismissal refer to in an employment context?

In an employment context, dismissal specifically refers to the act of terminating an employee's contract by the employer, typically due to performance-related issues such as incompetency or misconduct. This can involve actions taken after a formal evaluation of the employee's performance or behavior that does not meet the company's standards or expectations.

This choice accurately captures the nature of dismissal, as it is fundamentally about the employer's decision to end the employment relationship based on the employee's failure to fulfill the terms of their contract. While other reasons for termination may exist, such as health issues or mutual agreements, they do not align with the definition of dismissal, which inherently implies an employer's unilateral decision often associated with an employee's unsatisfactory performance.