Claimant v TBS East Anglia Limited
Outcome
Individual claims
The tribunal found that the respondent made an unauthorised deduction from the claimant's wages in the period from December 2022 to 1 February 2023 amounting to 44 unpaid hours at £12 per hour.
The tribunal found that the respondent made an unauthorised deduction from the claimant's wages by failing to pay the claimant for 10 hours of accrued but untaken holidays on the date the claimant's employment ended.
The tribunal found that Mr Baker's references to the claimant as a 'fucking Latvian' and a 'fucking foreigner' constituted harassment relating to race contrary to section 26 of the Equality Act 2010. The tribunal awarded £5,000 for injury to feelings.
Facts
Ms Meskavska, a Latvian national, was employed by TBS East Anglia Limited until 1 February 2023. During her employment, she worked 44 unpaid hours between December 2022 and February 2023 at a rate of £12 per hour. Mr Baker, representing the respondent, made racist comments referring to her as a 'fucking Latvian' and a 'fucking foreigner'. On termination, she was not paid for 10 hours of accrued but untaken holiday entitlement. The respondent did not appear at the tribunal hearing.
Decision
The tribunal found all claims well-founded. The respondent unlawfully deducted 44 hours of unpaid wages (£528) and 10 hours of holiday pay (£120). The racist comments by Mr Baker constituted harassment relating to race under the Equality Act 2010, for which the tribunal awarded £5,000 in injury to feelings compensation.
Practical note
Employers who fail to appear at tribunal face default judgments; racist slurs in the workplace constitute harassment even in cases involving relatively small wage claims, and can attract significant compensation.
Award breakdown
Vento band: lower
Legal authorities cited
Statutes
Case details
- Case number
- 3301922/2023
- Decision date
- 27 November 2025
- Hearing type
- full merits
- Hearing days
- 1
- Classification
- contested
Respondent
- Sector
- other
- Represented
- No
Claimant representation
- Represented
- No