In person For the v S Rafiq (lay representative) — 2025

The claimant worked for the respondent sandwich shop from 24 June 2023 to 14 July 2023 as a sandwich maker. The tribunal found that he was dismissed for gross misconduct on 14 July 2023. It accepted that he had been given a copy of his contract, which authorised deductions for lock and fob replacement, 15 hours of training costs if employment ended within four months, and certain uniform items if not returned on termination.

The tribunal found that the claimant worked 57.5 hours on the rotas produced, plus 15 hours of training on 24 June 2023 and 2 July 2023, giving 72.5 hours in total at £10.42 per hour and gross wages of £755.45. It accepted that the respondent changed the locks on 11 August 2023 after the key had not been returned, and held that the £457 lock replacement deduction and £156.30 training deduction were contractually authorised. The tribunal also noted that the respondent did not provide a payslip itemising the deductions.

The tribunal held that the £35 uniform deduction was not authorised by the contract. The contractual wording referred to notice of termination and return of uniform before final pay, but the claimant had been summarily dismissed and was told not to attend the shop, so he could not return the uniform. The claim was therefore upheld in part, and the respondent was ordered to pay £142.15, less any necessary tax and national insurance deductions, within 14 days of the judgment being sent to the parties.