Night porter and maintenance man win claims after employer hid behind corporate maze

This case shows how some employers use complex corporate structures to try to avoid their legal responsibilities. The night porter worked at a hotel for 14 years, but her employer changed several times through TUPE transfers and new companies. When she was furloughed during the pandemic, she stopped receiving full wages and payslips. Despite repeated promises from the man who ran the hotel, she was not paid properly for nearly two years. She eventually resigned, claiming constructive dismissal.

The maintenance man was told he was redundant in April 2021 but received no redundancy payment. Both claimants faced a maze of companies, but the tribunal identified Mohammad Zishan Zaman as the true employer. He had directed the furlough and made promises to pay, and the tribunal found he deliberately created the complex structure to obscure his role.

What the employer could have done differently

If the employer had paid wages correctly, provided payslips, and made redundancy payments, these claims could have been avoided. Instead, the tribunal found that the Fifth Respondent was the real employer and liable for all the awards. The employer did not attend the hearing, which meant the tribunal accepted the claimants' evidence.

Why this matters for similar claims

This case is a reminder that tribunals will look at the reality of the employment relationship, not just the paperwork. If you work for a company that changes names or owners frequently, or if your pay comes from different entities, you may still have rights against the person who actually controls your work. The awards here were relatively modest, but the principle is important: employers cannot hide behind a corporate shell to avoid paying what is owed.