Mr G Raynes v AND Advance Accounting Solution Limited, Cobham Mission Systems Wimborne Limited — 2021

Mr Raynes brought a monetary claim said to concern unpaid wages, accrued but unpaid holiday, breach of contract in relation to expenses, and matters connected with overpayment of tax and national insurance. The hearing was listed by video on 10 November 2021. The claimant objected to a video hearing shortly before the hearing date, but gave no reason for the objection and did not attend. The tribunal refused a postponement and proceeded in his absence under rule 47, taking into account the overriding objective and the absence of any witness statement, bundle, or calculation of loss.

On the merits, the tribunal said the claim form was vague and did not explain the contractual relationships said to exist with Advance Accounting Solution Limited or Cobham Mission Systems Wimborne Limited. Advance Accounting Solution Limited denied that the claimant had ever been its employee or client and described itself as an accountancy and bookkeeping business. The tribunal found there was no evidence that the claimant was a worker or employee of either respondent within the meaning of section 230 of the Employment Rights Act 1996, so it was not satisfied that it had jurisdiction for the claims as pleaded.

The tribunal also found that the claimant had adduced no evidence that he had suffered a loss of wages, that expenses were unpaid, that tax or national insurance had been overpaid, or that accrued holiday remained outstanding. For those reasons, the monetary claims were dismissed in full.