Redundancy, unpaid holiday and notice pay: a default judgment against Trackforce Recruitment
A former employee won over £5,500 after her employer failed to respond to her tribunal claim for redundancy pay, unpaid holiday, notice pay and an unauthorised deduction from wages.
1 min read · Last updated 18 May 2026
Key facts
- The respondent failed to present a valid response on time.
- The claimant was dismissed by reason of redundancy.
- The respondent made an unauthorised deduction from wages.
- The claimant was dismissed in breach of contract regarding notice.
- The respondent failed to pay holiday entitlement.
Timeline
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Claim presented
The claimant presented her claim to the tribunal.
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Judgment issued
Employment Judge Batten issued the judgment in default due to no response from the respondent.
The legal issue
The tribunal had to decide whether the employer made unauthorised deductions from wages, dismissed without proper notice, failed to pay redundancy and holiday entitlement, and whether the dismissal was unfair.
The outcome
The tribunal issued a default judgment because Trackforce Recruitment Limited did not present a valid response to the claim in time.
- Unauthorised deduction: £1,662.00 (2 weeks' gross pay)
- Breach of contract (notice): £1,800.00 (3 weeks' net pay)
- Redundancy payment: £1,713.00 (statutory entitlement)
- Holiday pay: £332.40 (2 days' gross pay)
- Unfair dismissal: succeeded but no additional award made
Total damages: £5,507.40
Lessons & takeaways
- If you are made redundant, you are entitled to statutory redundancy pay if you have at least two years' service, and your employer must give proper notice or pay in lieu.
- Employers cannot make unauthorised deductions from wages – if they do, you can claim for the full amount deducted.
- Holiday pay accrued but not taken must be paid on termination, including any statutory entitlement.
- If an employer fails to respond to a tribunal claim, the tribunal can issue a default judgment in your favour without a hearing.
- Unfair dismissal claims can succeed even without additional compensation if the employer fails to engage with the process.
This case shows what can happen when an employer simply ignores a tribunal claim. The former employee brought claims for redundancy pay, unpaid holiday, notice pay, and an unauthorised deduction from wages. Trackforce Recruitment Limited did not file a response, so the tribunal issued a default judgment, granting all the claims.
What the employer could have done differently
Had Trackforce Recruitment engaged with the process, they might have been able to argue about the amounts or the reasons for dismissal. By failing to respond, they lost the chance to contest any part of the claim. The tribunal accepted the claimant's evidence unchallenged.
Why this matters
For employees, this case is a reminder that even if an employer ignores proceedings, you can still secure a judgment. The total award of £5,507.40 covered redundancy pay, notice pay, holiday pay and an unauthorised deduction. The unfair dismissal claim succeeded but attracted no extra compensation, likely because the other awards already addressed the financial losses.
For employers, the message is clear: ignoring a tribunal claim does not make it go away. A default judgment can be entered, and the employer may end up paying the full amount claimed plus interest.
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