Claimant v Matt Screen Pet Services Ltd t/a Waggy Walks
Outcome
Individual claims
The tribunal found the claim for unlawful deduction of wages well-founded for the period 1 March 2024 to 14 June 2024. The claimant was entitled to the National Minimum Wage (£10.42 prior to 1 April 2024 and £11.44 after that date) and had not been paid these wages in full.
The tribunal found the claimant was unfairly dismissed by the respondent. However, a 20% reduction was applied to both the basic and compensatory awards due to the claimant's contributory conduct.
The tribunal found the claimant was wrongfully dismissed and awarded her notice pay equivalent to 2 weeks and 1 day of net pay, indicating she was dismissed without proper notice.
The tribunal ordered payment of accrued holiday pay that had not been paid to the claimant on termination of her employment.
Facts
The claimant worked for a pet services company (Waggy Walks) and was dismissed on 14 June 2024. She had not been paid the National Minimum Wage during her employment from 1 March 2024, had not been provided with written employment particulars, and was dismissed without proper notice. The parties agreed that awards should be calculated based on the National Minimum Wage rates (£10.42 before 1 April 2024 and £11.44 after).
Decision
The tribunal upheld claims for unlawful deduction of wages, unfair dismissal, wrongful dismissal, and unpaid holiday pay. The claimant was awarded £12,185.83 in total, but the unfair dismissal awards were reduced by 20% for contributory conduct. An uplift of 4 weeks' pay was awarded for the respondent's failure to provide written employment particulars.
Practical note
Employers failing to pay National Minimum Wage and provide written employment particulars face significant penalty uplifts, even where the claimant bears some contributory fault for the dismissal.
Award breakdown
Adjustments
20% reduction applied to both basic award and compensatory award (loss of statutory rights) for contributory conduct
Case details
- Case number
- 6003865/2024
- Decision date
- 13 June 2025
- Hearing type
- remedy
- Hearing days
- 1
- Classification
- contested
Respondent
- Sector
- other
- Represented
- No
- Rep type
- self
Employment details
Claimant representation
- Represented
- No