Claimant v Ms Jane Stratford t/a Jane de Weck Photography
Outcome
Individual claims
The business stopped trading in March 2025, making the claimant redundant after 12 years of service. The respondent did not dispute the claim. The tribunal calculated the statutory redundancy payment based on 10.5 years' service (half a week's pay for the first 3 years under age 22, and one week's pay for 9 years over age 22) at the statutory weekly rate of £486 gross, totalling £5,103.
The claimant was entitled to 12 weeks' notice based on her length of service but was only paid for 2 weeks following notice given on 28 February 2025. The respondent did not dispute this claim. The tribunal awarded 10 weeks' net notice pay at £432 per week, totalling £4,320.
Correspondence between the parties showed an agreed figure for unpaid holiday pay. The respondent did not dispute the claim. The tribunal awarded the agreed sum of £486.
Facts
Miss Strange worked for Ms Stratford's photography business for over 12 years, starting in March 2013 when she was 18. The business ran into financial difficulties and stopped trading in March 2025. Ms Stratford gave notice on 28 February 2025 and paid only two weeks' wages until 15 March 2025. The respondent did not attend the hearing and the claims for redundancy pay, notice pay and holiday pay were not disputed.
Decision
The tribunal upheld all three claims. The claimant was awarded statutory redundancy pay of £5,103 based on 10.5 years' service, notice pay of £4,320 for the 10 weeks not paid (out of the 12 weeks she was entitled to), and agreed holiday pay of £486, for a total award of £9,909. The tribunal rejected the respondent's suggestion that employment continued on unpaid leave until 11 April 2025.
Practical note
In default judgment cases where a sole trader business has ceased trading, tribunals will carefully calculate entitlements based on length of service and will not accept claims that employees were on unpaid leave when the evidence shows their employment was terminated.
Award breakdown
Award equivalent: 20.4 weeks' gross pay
Case details
- Case number
- 6010316/2025
- Decision date
- 11 September 2025
- Hearing type
- full merits
- Hearing days
- 1
- Classification
- contested
Respondent
- Sector
- media
- Represented
- No
Employment details
- Salary band
- £25,000–£30,000
- Service
- 12 years
Claimant representation
- Represented
- No