Respondent: Mr L Zawadzki The Co-operative Group HELD AT: Manchester v Mr L Zawadzki The Co-operative Group HELD AT: Manchester — 2025

The tribunal, sitting at Manchester before Employment Judge Porter, determined a single claim of unfair dismissal brought by Mr L Zawadzki against The Co-operative Group. The agreed issues concerned whether the respondent had shown a potentially fair reason for dismissal under section 98 of the Employment Rights Act 1996, whether the respondent acted reasonably in treating misconduct as a sufficient reason to dismiss, and whether the procedure followed and the sanction of dismissal fell within the band of reasonable responses. The tribunal also considered the Polkey principle and contributory conduct.

Having heard evidence from the claimant and his witnesses, and from the respondent's investigating officer, dismissing officer and appeal officer, the tribunal concluded that the claimant was unfairly dismissed. The tribunal further found that the claimant contributed to his dismissal by blameworthy conduct and that it was just and equitable to reduce both the basic and compensatory awards by 50%.

The respondent was ordered to pay the claimant £10,611.05, comprising a basic award of £2,070.00 and a compensatory award of £8,541.05. The recoupment regulations apply, with a prescribed element of £8,291.05 covering the period 8 March 2024 to 9 December 2024, leaving an excess of £2,320.00 over the prescribed element.