Former employee wins unfair dismissal, notice pay and holiday pay after employer fails to attend hearing
A former employee has been awarded £14,363.05 after the Employment Tribunal found their unfair dismissal, breach of contract and holiday pay claims well-founded. The employer did not attend the hearing.
1 min read · Last updated 18 May 2026
Case details
Key facts
- The claimant was employed by the respondent.
- The claimant's employment was terminated.
- The claimant brought claims for unfair dismissal, breach of contract, and holiday pay.
- The respondent did not attend the hearing.
- The tribunal found all claims well-founded.
Timeline
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Hearing and judgment
The Employment Tribunal held a hearing via Cloud Video Platform and issued a judgment finding the claimant's claims well-founded.
The legal issue
The tribunal had to decide whether the former employee was unfairly dismissed, entitled to notice pay for breach of contract, and entitled to unpaid holiday pay.
The outcome
The Employment Tribunal ruled in favour of the former employee on all claims.
- The unfair dismissal claim succeeded, with an award of £9,120.00.
- The breach of contract claim for notice pay was upheld, awarding £4,560.00 (gross of tax and National Insurance).
- The holiday pay claim was also successful, with an award of £683.05 (gross of tax and National Insurance).
- Total compensation: £14,363.05.
Lessons & takeaways
- If you are bringing a claim, ensure you present clear evidence of your employment and the circumstances of dismissal, even if the employer does not attend.
- Employers who fail to attend a tribunal hearing risk having a default judgment made against them on all claims.
- Claims for unpaid notice pay and holiday pay can be brought alongside an unfair dismissal claim in the same proceedings.
- Representing yourself (litigant in person) is possible, but you must prepare your case thoroughly and attend the hearing.
This case shows what can happen when an employer fails to engage with tribunal proceedings. The former employee brought claims for unfair dismissal, breach of contract (notice pay), and holiday pay after their employment ended. The employer, Roudh Enterprise Limited, did not attend the hearing or send a representative, leaving the tribunal to decide based solely on the evidence presented by the claimant.
What the tribunal decided
The Employment Judge found all three claims well-founded. The claimant was awarded £9,120 for unfair dismissal, £4,560 for notice pay (gross), and £683.05 for holiday pay (gross), totalling £14,363.05. The judgment was issued at a hearing conducted via Cloud Video Platform, which both parties had agreed to.
What the employer could have done differently
Had Roudh Enterprise Limited attended the hearing or provided a response, they might have been able to challenge the claims or reduce the compensation. By failing to appear, they lost the opportunity to present their side of the story. The tribunal is required to consider the evidence before it, and in the absence of any defence, the claimant's case succeeded in full.
Why this matters for similar claims
For employees considering bringing a claim, this case demonstrates that even without a lawyer, a well-prepared case can succeed if the employer does not defend it. It also highlights the importance of claiming all potential losses: unfair dismissal, notice pay, and holiday pay can all be pursued together. For employers, the message is clear: ignoring a tribunal claim does not make it go away and can lead to a default judgment with significant financial consequences.
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