Mrs P Thompson v Short Richardson and Forth Limited In Voluntary Liquidation — 2023

The tribunal entered judgment under Rule 21 because no response was received from the respondent. The respondent had entered voluntary liquidation, and the liquidator informed the tribunal that he did not intend to admit or defend any claim.

The tribunal found that on 5 September 2022 the respondent informed employees that it would cease providing legal services after 30 September 2022 and proposed to dismiss 20 or more employees as redundant. It found there was no proper warning or consultation with a recognised trade union or with the claimant, and no employee representatives had been elected or appointed for consultation under section 188A. The tribunal therefore found a breach of section 188 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 and made the maximum protective award for 90 days beginning on 30 September 2022.

The tribunal also found the wrongful dismissal claim well-founded. It found that the claimant was entitled to 6 weeks' contractual notice, was summarily dismissed on 30 September 2022, and was therefore entitled to £1,727.94 net notice pay. The tribunal made no award for pension contributions, and recorded that the claimant only wished to pursue notice pay and a protective award, so no awards were made in respect of redundancy payment or holiday pay.