Cases2410969/2023

Claimant v Axiom Ince Limited (In Administration)

3 July 2024Before Employment Judge K M RossManchesteron papers

Outcome

Partly successful£1,125

Individual claims

Breach of Contractsucceeded

This was a Rule 21 default judgment. The respondent failed to respond to the claim. The tribunal found the claimant's claim for notice pay well-founded and awarded one week's gross pay.

Unlawful Deduction from Wagessucceeded

The tribunal found the claim for unpaid wages well-founded under Rule 21, awarding one week's pay from 25 September 2023 to 3 October 2023, as the respondent did not defend the claim.

Holiday Paysucceeded

The tribunal found the claim for 12.5 days accrued but untaken holiday on termination well-founded, calculated at £49.98 gross daily rate, totalling £624.75.

Failure to Inform & Consultfailed

The claim under section 189 TULRCA 1992 for failure to consult failed because the claimant was based at Manchester where fewer than 20 staff were made redundant, falling below the threshold for collective consultation requirements and protective award entitlement.

Facts

The claimant was employed by Axiom Ince Limited, a law firm that entered administration. Her employment ended on 3 October 2023 earning £249.92 per week gross. She was based at the Manchester establishment. The respondent failed to respond to her claims for notice pay, unpaid wages for the final week (25 September to 3 October 2023), and accrued holiday pay of 12.5 days. She also claimed a protective award for failure to consult under TULRCA 1992.

Decision

The tribunal entered a Rule 21 default judgment, awarding the claimant notice pay of £249.92, unpaid wages of £249.92, and holiday pay of £624.75 (totalling £1,124.59). However, the protective award claim failed because fewer than 20 employees were made redundant at the Manchester establishment, falling below the statutory threshold for collective consultation obligations.

Practical note

Rule 21 default judgments will succeed on monetary claims where the respondent fails to respond, but protective award claims under TULRCA 1992 require meeting the statutory threshold of 20 or more redundancies at the specific establishment, regardless of company-wide redundancy numbers.

Award breakdown

Notice pay£250
Holiday pay£625
Unpaid wages£250

Legal authorities cited

Statutes

TULRCA 1992 s.188TULRCA 1992 s.189

Case details

Case number
2410969/2023
Decision date
3 July 2024
Hearing type
rule 21
Hearing days
Classification
default

Respondent

Sector
legal services
Represented
No

Employment details

Claimant representation

Represented
No