Nursing home worker unfairly dismissed and wages deducted without authorisation
A former employee of Beechill Nursing Home was unfairly dismissed and had wages deducted for three shifts. The tribunal awarded £578.40 including an ACAS uplift.
1 min read · Last updated 18 May 2026
Case details
Key facts
- The respondent made unauthorised deductions from the claimant's wages for 3 shifts.
- The claimant was unfairly dismissed.
- The respondent failed to follow the ACAS Code of Practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures.
- The claimant was awarded compensation for unfair dismissal including a 10% uplift for breach of the ACAS Code.
Timeline
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Dismissal
The claimant was dismissed from employment.
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End of prescribed period
The prescribed element period ends.
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Loss of earnings calculation date
Loss of earnings calculated up to this date.
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Hearing and judgment
Employment Tribunal hearing held and judgment issued.
The legal issue
The tribunal had to decide whether the nursing home made unauthorised deductions from the employee's wages and whether the dismissal was unfair.
The outcome
The tribunal ruled in favour of the former employee on both claims. The nursing home had deducted wages for three shifts without proper authorisation and had dismissed the employee unfairly.
Compensation breakdown:
- Basic award: £196.00
- Loss of earnings to 11 November 2021: £214.00
- Uplift for breach of ACAS Code (10%): £21.40
- Unauthorised deductions: £147.00
- Total: £578.40
Lessons & takeaways
- Employers must follow proper disciplinary procedures and the ACAS Code of Practice; failure to do so can lead to a 10% uplift on compensation.
- Unauthorised deductions from wages are unlawful and can be challenged at an employment tribunal.
- Representing yourself is possible, but having legal advice may help navigate complex procedural rules.
- Keep records of shifts worked and any communications about pay to support a claim for unauthorised deductions.
A case of procedural failures and wage deductions
This case highlights how a nursing home's failure to follow basic employment procedures led to a successful claim for both unfair dismissal and unauthorised wage deductions. The former employee, who represented herself, was able to show that the employer deducted pay for three shifts without proper authorisation and dismissed her without following the ACAS Code of Practice.
What the employer did wrong
The tribunal found that Skolak Healthcare Limited, trading as Beechill Nursing Home, made unauthorised deductions from the employee's wages. This is a straightforward breach of employment rights. More significantly, the dismissal was unfair because the employer did not follow a fair disciplinary process. The ACAS Code of Practice sets out minimum standards for handling disciplinary issues, and ignoring them can be costly — here it added a 10% uplift to the compensation.
Why this matters for similar claims
For employees in care homes or similar settings, this case is a reminder that even small employers must follow proper procedures. The total award of £578.40 is modest, but it includes a specific sum for the unauthorised deductions and a clear message that cutting corners on process will not be tolerated. The case also shows that individuals can succeed without legal representation, though having a clear timeline and evidence of the deductions was key.
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