Unfair dismissal and redundancy: employer ordered to pay £1,278 for multiple breaches

A case of multiple workplace failures

This case shows how a single employment relationship can unravel through a series of basic legal breaches. The former employee brought claims for unauthorised deductions from holiday pay, breach of contract for lack of notice, unfair dismissal, and a redundancy payment. The employer, Teresa Purdie, did not attend the hearing and had her participation restricted, but the tribunal still examined the evidence and found in the employee's favour on every point.

What the employer did wrong

The tribunal identified three distinct failures. First, the employer deducted money from the employee's holiday pay without lawful authority. Second, when the employment ended, the employer gave no notice of termination, which is a fundamental breach of contract. Third, the dismissal was unfair, and the employee was entitled to a statutory redundancy payment. These are all common obligations that any employer should be aware of.

Why this matters for similar claims

For employees facing redundancy, this case is a reminder that statutory rights – such as notice pay, redundancy pay, and protection against unauthorised deductions – are enforceable even if the employer is unresponsive. The total award of £1,278.84, though modest, covered all the losses the employee could prove. The case also highlights that tribunals will proceed with a hearing even if the employer does not engage, so employees should not be deterred from bringing a claim if their employer fails to participate.