Represented himself For the v Mr Berman, consultant — 2026

The claimant resigned from his role as eLearning Content Associate on 15 January 2025. Following a conversation with the business owner, he agreed to a shortened notice period of two days (to 17 January 2025) in return for the respondent providing him with an 'excellent reference'. The reference was never provided. The claimant secured alternative employment from 27 January 2025 on a higher salary and obtained a satisfactory reference from a previous employer.

The respondent's case was that the claimant was due only a further £195.80 net. The claimant argued the agreement was voided by the respondent's failure to provide the agreed reference, entitling him to notice up to and including 26 January 2025. The Employment Judge preferred the claimant's argument, concluding that the respondent's failure to provide the agreed reference was a fundamental breach voiding the shorter-notice agreement.

The tribunal calculated the additional sum due as £1,590 (26/31 of monthly salary), less £525 (six days' over-taken holiday at £87.50/day) and £500 already paid, leaving £565 awarded to the claimant. Note: the gov.uk listing categories included 'Written Pay Statement', but no s.11 ERA written statement claim was adjudicated in the visible judgment text.