Mr Palmer Olowu v Fast Track Management Services Ltd — 2020

Mr Palmer Olowu did not attend the hearing, was not represented, and had not contacted the Tribunal. At 10:20 a.m. Employment Judge Housego telephoned the number given on the claim form. The claimant answered, confirmed who he was, and said he was at his son's mother's house for the weekend and had stayed there because she was not well that day. He did not ask for an adjournment and did not say that he was unaware of the hearing.

The judge referred to Rule 47 of the Employment Tribunals Rules of Procedure, which permits the Tribunal to dismiss or proceed in the absence of a party after considering available information about the reasons for absence. The respondent's representative asked that the claims be struck out for non-attendance rather than proceed in the claimant's absence. The judge struck out the claims, recording that there was no good reason for the claimant's non-attendance, that he had not notified the Tribunal before the hearing, and that he had not asked for an adjournment. No merits findings or monetary remedy were made.