Mr S Zaba v Bidvest Noonan (UK) Limited — 2025

The Tribunal awarded the Respondent costs of £3,500 plus VAT, totalling £4,200, for Counsel's brief fee for the hearing listed on 30 and 31 October 2024. In the alternative, it awarded the same sum against Employment and Wales Employment Advice Limited as wasted costs. The Claimant and that representative were made jointly and severally liable.

The Tribunal found that the Claimant's postponement application was made on 24 October 2024 and was granted on 29 October 2024 after further information was provided about flights booked on 23 February 2024. The Claimant had not given the required seven days' notice and had not provided evidence that permission had been sought from the Tribunal or the authorities in Thailand to give evidence from abroad.

The Tribunal concluded that the belated postponement application was unreasonable under Rule 76(1)(a), because even without the stated internet connectivity issues, the absence of the necessary permissions to give evidence from abroad would have prevented the hearing from taking place. It also found that the failure to give seven days' notice provided additional grounds for a costs award under Rule 76(1)(c).