Cases1402246/2022

Claimant v Marc Bandemer

22 January 2024Before Employment Judge DawsonSouthamptonhybrid

Outcome

Claimant succeeds£95,775

Individual claims

Harassment(sex)succeeded

The tribunal found there was a period of harassment when the claimant asked Mr Bandemer to stop making unwanted advances and he did not respect her request. The harassment included the claimant being pulled onto the respondent's knee on 17 July 2021. The claimant was demoted when she resisted the respondent's advances, which was an aggravating feature causing particular injury to feelings.

Unlawful Deduction from Wagessucceeded

The tribunal found the claimant was entitled to employee pension contributions of £331.25 per month for 13 months which were deducted but not paid into a pension fund. The tribunal also found (on reconsideration) that the claimant was promoted to Strategic Development Director from 3 February 2022 and was entitled to be paid at the higher contractual rate of £11,550 per month, but was only paid £6,625 per month until termination on 23 June 2022.

Breach of Contractsucceeded

The tribunal found the claimant was entitled to three months' notice pay which was not paid. The contractual notice period was 13 weeks at a gross weekly rate of £2,665.38.

Holiday Paysucceeded

The tribunal found the claimant was entitled to 16 days' outstanding holiday pay at the gross daily rate applicable to her promoted role of £533.08 per day, which had not been paid on termination.

Facts

The claimant worked for the respondent and was promoted to Strategic Development Director in February 2022. She suffered sexual harassment including being pulled onto the respondent's knee in July 2021. When she resisted his advances, she was demoted. The respondent failed to pay her at the promoted salary rate, deducted pension contributions without paying them into a fund, and failed to pay notice or accrued holiday pay on termination on 23 June 2022. The respondent also failed to provide written particulars of the changed terms on promotion.

Decision

This was a remedy hearing following a liability judgment dated 1 September 2023. The tribunal reconsidered its earlier judgment to address a claim for unpaid wages following promotion that had not been fully determined. The tribunal awarded £20,000 for injury to feelings (middle Vento band), plus interest. It awarded arrears of wages totalling £22,958.31 for underpayment following promotion, £4,306.25 for unpaid employee pension contributions, £34,649.94 notice pay, £8,529.28 holiday pay, and £5,330.76 under s38 Employment Act 2002 for failure to provide written particulars. Total awards: £95,774.54.

Practical note

Tribunals can reconsider their own judgments where a substantive issue in the list of issues was not determined, particularly at the remedy stage before final conclusion of proceedings, though the principle of finality of litigation means reconsideration should be exercised cautiously.

Award breakdown

Injury to feelings£20,000
Notice pay£34,650
Holiday pay£8,529
Arrears of pay£22,958
Unpaid wages£4,306
Interest£3,440

Vento band: middle

Award equivalent: 40.1 weeks' gross pay

Legal authorities cited

Vento v Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police [2003] ICR 318Flint v Eastern Electricity Board [1975] ICR 395Outasight VB v Brown [2015] ICR D11Armitage, Marsden and HM Prison Service v Johnson [1997] IRLR 162Ministry of Justice v Burton [2016] ICR 1128Newcastle upon Tyne City Council v Marsden [2010] ICR 743Lindsay v Ironsides Ray & Vials [1994] ICR 384Petrica v Central London Community NHS Trust UKEAT/0059/20/ATSomerset County Council v Chambers

Statutes

Employment Rights Act 1996 s.4Employment Act 2002 s.38Employment Rights Act 1996 s.1

Case details

Case number
1402246/2022
Decision date
22 January 2024
Hearing type
remedy
Hearing days
2
Classification
contested

Respondent

Sector
financial services
Represented
Yes
Rep type
lay rep

Employment details

Role
Strategic Development Director
Salary band
£100,000+

Claimant representation

Represented
Yes
Rep type
barrister