Cases3304199/2023

Claimant v Qube Qualifications and Development Limited

7 March 2025Before Employment Judge Shastri-HurstEast of England

Outcome

Claimant succeeds£12,061

Individual claims

Failure to Inform & Consultsucceeded

The tribunal found that the respondent failed to comply with section 188 of TULR(C)A regarding collective consultation before redundancy dismissals. There was no recognised trade union or appointed/elected employee representatives, and the respondent did not conduct the required consultation process before making redundancies.

Breach of Contractsucceeded

The tribunal upheld the complaint that the respondent breached the claimant's contract by failing to pay notice pay upon termination. The claimant was entitled to notice pay which was not provided.

Unlawful Deduction from Wageswithdrawn

Withdrawn by claimant.

Holiday Paywithdrawn

Withdrawn by claimant.

Redundancy Paysucceeded

Under section 163 Employment Rights Act 1996, the tribunal determined that the claimant was entitled to a statutory redundancy payment following her dismissal by reason of redundancy when the company entered creditors voluntary liquidation.

Facts

The claimant was employed by Qube Qualifications and Development Limited, which operated from premises in Milton Park, Abingdon. The company entered creditors voluntary liquidation and dismissed the claimant by reason of redundancy on 28 March 2023. The respondent failed to conduct collective consultation with employees or their representatives before making the redundancies, and failed to pay notice pay. The claimant brought claims for protective award, notice pay, unpaid wages, holiday pay, and redundancy payment, with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade joined as second respondent.

Decision

The tribunal upheld the claims for failure to inform and consult, breach of contract (notice pay), and redundancy pay. The respondent was ordered to pay a protective award of £8,655.81 (90 days remuneration), notice pay of £2,059.08, and redundancy pay of £1,346.16. The claims for unpaid wages and holiday pay were dismissed upon withdrawal. Credit was to be given for sums already paid by the Redundancy Payments Service.

Practical note

Employers must comply with collective consultation obligations under s.188 TULR(C)A before making redundancies, even when entering insolvency, or face protective awards of up to 90 days pay per affected employee.

Award breakdown

Notice pay£2,059
Redundancy pay£1,346

Legal authorities cited

Statutes

Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 s.188Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 s.188(1B)Employment Rights Act 1996 s.163

Case details

Case number
3304199/2023
Decision date
7 March 2025
Hearing type
full merits
Hearing days
Classification
contested

Respondent

Sector
education
Represented
No

Claimant representation

Represented
No