Gymnastics coach dismissed after asking for contract and payslips wins automatic unfair dismissal claim
A gymnastics coach was automatically unfairly dismissed after asserting her right to a written contract and payslips. The tribunal awarded £56,202 including compensation for unlawful wage deductions.
1 min read · Last updated 19 May 2026
Case details
- #gymnastics-coach
- #automatic-unfair-dismissal
- #unauthorised-deductions
- #section-1-claim
- #section-8-claim
- #acas-code-uplift
- #visa-sponsorship-fees
Key facts
- Ms Bolotina started work as a gymnastics coach on 14 December 2018.
- She was summarily dismissed on 1 December 2019.
- The tribunal found the principal reason for dismissal was her assertion of statutory rights to a written contract and pay slips.
- The respondent deducted £1,337 from her January 2019 wages for visa-related fees.
- Ms Bolotina was paid less than the agreed annual salary of £31,200 for most months.
- The respondent failed to follow the ACAS Code of Practice on disciplinary procedures.
Timeline
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Employment started
Ms Bolotina began working as a gymnastics coach for the respondent.
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Deduction requested
Ms Clark asked Ms Bolotina to repay Home Office fees.
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Deduction agreed
Ms Bolotina agreed to the deduction from her January wages.
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Contract received
Ms Bolotina received a written contract showing start date as 1 February 2019, which she disputed.
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Statutory rights asserted
Ms Bolotina emailed Ms Clark requesting correct contract and pay slips for December 2018 and January 2019.
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Written warning issued
Ms Bolotina received a written warning about a cancelled coaching session.
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Trustees decided to dismiss
The board of trustees approved immediate dismissal for alleged misconduct.
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Dismissal
Ms Bolotina was summarily dismissed by letter with no reasons given.
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Liability hearing
Tribunal found dismissal automatically unfair and deductions unlawful.
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Remedy hearing
Tribunal awarded £56,202 in compensation.
The legal issue
The tribunal had to decide whether the coach was automatically unfairly dismissed for asserting her statutory rights to a written contract and payslips, and whether the employer made unlawful deductions from her wages, including visa sponsorship fees.
The outcome
The tribunal found that the gymnastics coach was automatically unfairly dismissed because the principal reason for her dismissal was her assertion of statutory rights to a written contract and payslips. The employer also made unlawful deductions from her wages, including £1,337 for visa-related fees that should have been paid by the employer.
Compensation awarded:
- Basic award: £474
- Compensatory award: £31,200
- Total: £56,202 (includes additional sums for notice pay and holiday pay)
Lessons & takeaways
- Employees who are dismissed for asserting their statutory rights, such as the right to a written contract or payslips, can claim automatic unfair dismissal without needing two years' service.
- Employers cannot require employees to reimburse visa sponsorship fees; these are the employer's responsibility under Home Office rules.
- A lay representative can successfully present an unfair dismissal claim if the evidence clearly shows the employer's motive was retaliatory.
- Employers should ensure they follow proper disciplinary procedures and do not dismiss employees shortly after they raise legitimate statutory requests.
This case highlights the protection available to employees who are dismissed for asserting their basic employment rights. The gymnastics coach had been underpaid and had not received a written contract or payslips for months. When she finally asked for these documents, she was given a written warning and then summarily dismissed within weeks.
What the employer did wrong
The employer, Friendship Society Limited, made several critical errors. First, it deducted £1,337 from the coach's wages for visa sponsorship fees, which is unlawful under Home Office rules. Second, it failed to provide a written contract and payslips despite repeated requests. Most importantly, the timing of the dismissal – just after the coach asserted her rights – made it clear that the dismissal was retaliatory. The tribunal found that the employer's stated reason of misconduct was not the real reason.
Why this matters for similar claims
This case is a reminder that employees do not need two years' service to claim unfair dismissal if the reason is an assertion of statutory rights. The coach had worked for less than a year, but because the dismissal was automatically unfair, she was entitled to compensation. The award of £56,202 reflects not only the loss of earnings but also the unlawful deductions and the employer's failure to follow the ACAS Code of Practice, which allowed a 25% uplift.
For employees, the lesson is clear: asserting your right to a written contract and payslips is protected. If you are dismissed soon after making such a request, you may have a strong claim for automatic unfair dismissal. For employers, the message is equally clear: retaliating against employees who ask for their statutory rights is unlawful and can be costly.
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