Mr S P Spokes v Beaver Management Services Limited [R1] Charles Contract Services Limited [R2] Barrier Limited [R3] — 2020

The case was heard at Newcastle by video link on 21, 22 and 23 October 2020 before Employment Judge S Shore with two non-legal members. The claimant appeared in person. The respondents were represented. The tribunal recorded that it gave judgment orally and that the written record followed from that oral judgment.

The tribunal held that there was no contract between the claimant and the first respondent that qualified him as a worker or employee of that company, and no contract between the claimant and the second respondent that qualified him as a worker or employee of that company. On that basis, his claims of automatic unfair dismissal and/or detriment for making a protected disclosure against those respondents failed.

As to the third respondent, the tribunal held that there was no contract of employment between the claimant and that respondent that qualified him as an employee, so the automatic unfair dismissal claim failed. The tribunal did find that the claimant was a worker of the third respondent, but it further found that he did not make a protected disclosure to it on 18 November 2019. His detriment claim therefore also failed. All claims were dismissed and no monetary remedy was awarded.