Unfair dismissal and unpaid wages: newsagent employee awarded over £25,000
A former employee of Walkdens Newsagents Limited has been awarded £25,931 after the tribunal found they were unfairly and wrongfully dismissed, and that the employer made unauthorised deductions from wages and failed to pay holiday pay.
1 min read · Last updated 18 May 2026
Key facts
- The claimant was employed by the respondent as a newsagent employee.
- The claimant was dismissed on 19 March 2023.
- The respondent failed to pay the claimant wages for the period 1 to 19 March 2023.
- The respondent failed to pay accrued holiday pay on termination.
- The tribunal found the dismissal was unfair and wrongful.
Timeline
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Start of unpaid period
The claimant worked from 1 March 2023 but was not paid wages from this date.
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Dismissal
The claimant was dismissed by the respondent.
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Hearing
The employment tribunal hearing took place remotely via CVP.
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Judgment issued
Employment Judge Humble issued the judgment finding unfair dismissal, wrongful dismissal, unauthorised deductions, and failure to pay holiday pay.
The legal issue
The tribunal had to decide whether the claimant was unfairly dismissed, wrongfully dismissed, whether there were unauthorised deductions from wages, and whether the respondent failed to pay accrued holiday pay.
The outcome
The tribunal ruled in favour of the former employee on all claims.
- Unfair dismissal: Basic award of £12,249.50 and compensatory award of £10,692.86 (total £22,942.36).
- Wrongful dismissal: £5,879.76 for 12 weeks' statutory notice pay (offset against the compensatory award to avoid double recovery).
- Unauthorised deductions: £1,273.87 for unpaid wages from 1 to 19 March 2023.
- Holiday pay: £1,714.82 for accrued holiday pay on termination.
- Total award: £25,931.05.
Lessons & takeaways
- Employers must pay wages for all time worked, even if the employee is dismissed part-way through a pay period.
- Accrued but untaken holiday pay must be paid on termination, regardless of the reason for dismissal.
- Failing to pay notice pay can lead to a separate wrongful dismissal claim and additional compensation.
- Tribunals can award multiple remedies for different breaches, but will offset overlapping sums to prevent double recovery.
This case highlights the consequences for employers who fail to meet basic legal obligations when ending an employment relationship. The former employee, a newsagent worker, was dismissed on 19 March 2023 but had not been paid for the period from 1 March onwards. The employer also failed to pay accrued holiday pay and did not provide any notice pay.
What the tribunal decided
The tribunal found that the dismissal was both unfair and wrongful. The employer had made unauthorised deductions from wages by not paying for the days worked in March. It also failed to pay holiday pay accrued during the employment. The total award of £25,931.05 included a basic award for unfair dismissal, a compensatory award, notice pay, unpaid wages, and holiday pay.
What the employer could have done differently
Walkdens Newsagents Limited could have avoided this outcome by simply paying the employee their wages for the days worked, honouring accrued holiday pay, and either providing notice or paying in lieu. Even if the dismissal was procedurally fair, failing to pay what is legally owed leaves employers exposed to multiple claims.
Why this matters
For employees, this case is a reminder that tribunals can award compensation for several breaches arising from the same dismissal. The total award here was substantial because it covered unpaid wages, holiday pay, notice pay, and unfair dismissal compensation. For employers, it underscores that non-payment of wages and holiday pay is rarely a cost-saving measure — it often leads to larger awards and legal costs.
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