Dismissed without notice and wages deducted: a breach of contract claim

This case shows what can happen when an employer dismisses an employee without giving the required notice and then makes deductions from wages without proper authority. The former employee brought claims for breach of contract and unauthorised deductions, and the tribunal awarded a total of £895.99.

What the tribunal decided

The tribunal found that Kloo Ltd breached the employment contract by dismissing the former employee without notice. This meant the employee was entitled to damages equivalent to the pay they would have received during the notice period. Additionally, the employer had made unauthorised deductions from wages, which the tribunal ordered to be repaid. The former employee also recovered a sum for consequential loss – financial losses that flowed directly from the employer's actions.

What the employer could have done differently

Kloo Ltd could have avoided this outcome by giving proper notice (or pay in lieu) and by ensuring any deductions from wages were authorised by law or by the employee's consent. Providing written particulars of employment earlier would have avoided that claim, though it was dismissed because particulars were provided before the claim was presented.

Why this matters

This case is a reminder that employment contracts protect both parties. Employees who are dismissed without notice or have wages deducted without good reason can bring claims in the employment tribunal. The amounts may be modest, but the principle is important: employers must follow the rules.