Claimant v The PIPE Company OU (UK) Limited
Outcome
Individual claims
The tribunal found the claim for unfair dismissal was well founded. The respondent did not attend the hearing to defend the claim, and the tribunal was satisfied on the evidence presented that the dismissal was unfair.
The tribunal found the claim for automatic unfair dismissal was well founded. The respondent failed to appear to contest the allegation, and the tribunal accepted the claimant's evidence that the dismissal was automatically unfair.
The claim for wrongful dismissal succeeded on liability. However, a separate award for wrongful dismissal was not pursued as a compensatory award covering notice period loss was made instead.
The tribunal found the claimant was owed 15 days of accrued but unpaid holiday pay at the termination of employment, which the respondent had failed to pay.
Facts
Mr Cole was employed by The PIPE Company OU (UK) Limited from 13 January 2022 until his dismissal on 23 April 2024, a period of 2 years. He was 67 years old at the effective date of termination and earned £60,000 per annum. He brought claims for unfair dismissal, automatic unfair dismissal, wrongful dismissal, and unpaid holiday pay. The respondent did not attend the hearing to defend the claims.
Decision
Employment Judge Hastie found all of the claimant's claims well founded and awarded him a total of £63,603.69. This comprised a basic award of £2,100, a compensatory award of £58,042.15 (grossed up for tax), and £3,461.54 for 15 days of unpaid holiday pay. The tribunal found the dismissal was both ordinary and automatically unfair.
Practical note
Employers who fail to defend tribunal claims risk default judgments awarding full compensation including grossed-up awards for loss of earnings, pension contributions, and statutory rights.
Award breakdown
Award equivalent: 55.1 weeks' gross pay
Case details
- Case number
- 6002703/2024
- Decision date
- 18 November 2025
- Hearing type
- full merits
- Hearing days
- 1
- Classification
- contested
Respondent
- Sector
- other
- Represented
- No
Employment details
- Salary band
- £60,000–£80,000
- Service
- 2 years
Claimant representation
- Represented
- Yes
- Rep type
- barrister