Cases6002655/2025

Claimant v R3Vamp Ltd

9 May 2025Before Employment Judge HawksworthReadingremote video

Outcome

Claimant fails

Individual claims

Automatic Unfair Dismissalfailed

The tribunal refused the application for interim relief under s.103A ERA 1996 (whistleblowing dismissal). The claimant failed to demonstrate a 'pretty good chance' of success on establishing protected disclosures because she did not provide sufficient detail about what information was disclosed or what wrongdoing was alleged. There was also insufficient clarity on the public interest element and on whether disclosures were made to the employer or a prescribed person. Further, the respondent provided a plausible alternative reason for dismissal (non-attendance on first two days and failure to contact them), which undermined causation.

Interim Relieffailed

Interim relief application under s.128-129 ERA 1996 refused. The tribunal found the claimant did not have a 'pretty good chance' of success on the whistleblowing unfair dismissal claim. The claimant failed to meet the high threshold required for interim relief on both the existence of protected disclosures and on causation between any disclosure and dismissal.

Facts

The claimant was an agency worker assigned by the respondent recruitment company to London Business School as an AP Analyst from 20 January 2025. She was withdrawn from the assignment on 21 January 2025. She claimed she was dismissed for making whistleblowing disclosures to the ICO, EHRC, HSE and DWP on 18-19 January 2025 and by forwarding an email on 20 January 2025 requesting reasonable adjustments. The respondent said the assignment was terminated because she did not attend work on the first or second days and could not be contacted. The hearing was postponed twice at the claimant's request before proceeding on 7 May 2025.

Decision

The tribunal refused the application for interim relief. The claimant failed to demonstrate a 'pretty good chance' of establishing protected disclosures because she did not provide sufficient detail about what information was disclosed or what wrongdoing was alleged. The public interest element was also insufficiently established. Additionally, the respondent provided a plausible alternative reason for dismissal (non-attendance and failure to contact) which undermined the causation element required for whistleblowing dismissal.

Practical note

Interim relief applications in whistleblowing cases require claimants to provide detailed particulars of the alleged disclosures, including the specific information disclosed and the wrongdoing alleged, not just general references to breached legislation.

Legal authorities cited

Taplin v C Shippam Limited [1978] IRLR 450 (EAT)London City Airport Ltd v Chacko [2013] IRLR 610 (EAT)Wollenberg v Global Gaming Ventures (Leeds) Ltd EAT 0053/18Dandpat v University of Bath UKEAT/0408/09

Statutes

ERA 1996 s.103AERA 1996 s.129ERA 1996 s.128ERA 1996 s.43FERA 1996 s.43BERA 1996 s.43CERA 1996 s.43A

Case details

Case number
6002655/2025
Decision date
9 May 2025
Hearing type
interim
Hearing days
1
Classification
contested

Respondent

Sector
professional services
Represented
Yes
Rep type
barrister

Employment details

Role
AP Analyst

Claimant representation

Represented
No