MR I LISOUF v Grad2teach Limited — 2025

This hearing concerned the claimant's non-attendance at the listed preliminary hearing on 13 June 2025. The tribunal noted that at the earlier hearing on 24 March 2025 the claimant had attended from Morocco, had been told he needed permission to give evidence from abroad, and had said he had not applied for it. The tribunal explained the Practice Direction on evidence from abroad and postponed the final hearing until he obtained the necessary permission.

The respondent applied in writing for strike out under Rule 38 and for a preparation time order, but the claimant did not respond in writing as directed. When the preliminary hearing began at 2:00 pm on 13 June 2025, the claimant did not attend. The tribunal tried to telephone him and sent an email giving him until 2:30 pm to attend and warning that the claim might be dismissed, but there was no response.

Applying Rule 47 of the Employment Tribunal Rules of Procedure 2024, the tribunal said it had made all practicable enquiries about the claimant's absence and had no information explaining why he was not present, while being satisfied that he knew of the hearing. It therefore unanimously dismissed the claim under Rule 47 on the basis of non-attendance. The respondent then withdrew its application for a preparation time order.

The tribunal said dismissal was proportionate and in accordance with the overriding objective. No substantive merits findings were made and no remedy was awarded.