Cleaner dismissed during Covid-19: employer's failure to respond leads to £2,719 payout
A part-time cleaner who was dismissed after asking to be furloughed has won her unfair dismissal claim after her employer failed to submit a response to the tribunal.
1 min read · Last updated 19 May 2026
Case details
Key facts
- The claimant was employed as a cleaner from 26 September 2017 until 4 August 2020.
- On 23 March 2020, the claimant was told the shop was closed due to Covid-19 and she was not paid from that date.
- The respondent did not submit a response to the claim and was not permitted to participate in the hearing.
- The claimant was unaware of her right to bring a tribunal claim until May 2021.
- The claimant obtained new employment on 15 January 2021.
Timeline
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Employment started
Claimant began working as a cleaner for Razors and Blades Ltd, 6 hours per week.
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Shop closed due to Covid-19
Claimant's manager texted that the shop was closed until further notice; she was told not to clean.
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Last payment received
Claimant was paid up to 23 March 2020; no further payments were made.
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Claimant inquired about furlough
Claimant asked if respondent would use the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme; respondent said they were looking into it.
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Asked to return to work
Manager asked claimant to return to work, but claimant requested furlough due to possible further lockdown.
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Business sold or new management
Claimant was told the business had been sold to a new owner (or new management installed).
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Dismissal communicated
Manager emailed claimant saying her contract was being terminated; no formal letter followed.
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Claimant started claiming JSA
Claimant began claiming Jobseeker's Allowance and seeking alternative employment.
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New employment obtained
Claimant obtained new employment at £360 per week.
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Claimant raised complaints
Claimant contacted the business to raise complaints about her employment.
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Claim presented to tribunal
Claimant submitted early conciliation notification and claim form.
The legal issue
The tribunal had to decide whether the cleaner's claims for unfair dismissal, wrongful dismissal, unpaid wages, and holiday pay were brought in time and whether they succeeded on the merits.
The outcome
The tribunal upheld the cleaner's claims for unfair dismissal, wrongful dismissal, unauthorised deductions from wages, and holiday pay. The employer had not submitted a response and was not allowed to participate in the hearing.
Compensation breakdown:
- Basic award: £104.64
- Loss of statutory rights: £52.32
- Compensatory award (loss of earnings): £1,225.78
- Unpaid wages (23 March to 4 August 2020): £1,005.09
- Holiday pay: £331.81
- Total: £2,719.64
Lessons & takeaways
- Employers must respond to tribunal claims within the deadline, or they risk being barred from defending the case.
- Employees who are not paid during a temporary closure may have a claim for unauthorised deductions from wages.
- Asking to be furloughed under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme does not justify dismissal without a fair process.
- Even part-time workers with short service are entitled to a fair dismissal process and can claim unfair dismissal if it is not followed.
A cleaner left in limbo during lockdown
The claimant worked as an evening cleaner for Razors and Blades Limited, just six hours a week. When the shop closed in March 2020 due to the first Covid-19 lockdown, she was told not to come in and received no further pay. She asked about the government's furlough scheme, but her employer said they were 'looking into it' – and then did nothing. Four months later, after the business had been sold, she was dismissed by email.
What the employer did wrong
The employer made a series of mistakes. It failed to pay the claimant for the period the shop was closed, which amounted to an unauthorised deduction from wages. It did not follow any fair process before dismissing her – no warning, no opportunity to respond, no right of appeal. And crucially, it did not submit a response to the tribunal claim, despite being aware of it for over a year. As a result, the tribunal barred the employer from participating in the hearing and decided the case based on the claimant's evidence alone.
Why this case matters
This case shows that even small employers with part-time staff must follow basic employment law. The tribunal made clear that the dismissal was unfair because the employer had no procedure at all. It also confirmed that the claimant's claims were brought in time, as she was unaware of her right to claim until May 2021. The total award of £2,719.64 – though modest – covers unpaid wages, holiday pay, and compensation for lost earnings until she found a new job. For employees in similar situations, the key lesson is to seek advice early and not assume that a small claim is not worth pursuing.
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