Robert Cowdrey v Bobbie Hunt (T/A Langley Vale Recovery Service) Held at: London South Employment Tribunal (by video) — 2025

The Respondent did not attend the hearing. The Tribunal found that the Respondent had failed to pay the Claimant the applicable national minimum wage from 2016 until 27 June 2024 and was in breach of contract; the gross underpayment of £62,543.72 was capped at £25,000. The Tribunal also found that the Claimant had been dismissed without notice, amounting to wrongful dismissal, and awarded 12 weeks' pay as damages.

The Tribunal upheld complaints of unauthorised deductions from wages in respect of accrued but untaken annual leave on termination, and a failure to provide rest breaks contrary to the Working Time Regulations 1998. The complaint of unfair dismissal was found to be well founded and succeeded, with a basic award reflecting 14 years' service at a 1.5 multiplier, a compensatory award covering loss of earnings across three calculation periods (with damages for wrongful dismissal deducted to avoid double recovery), and an award for loss of statutory rights.

The Tribunal further found that the Respondent had breached its duty to provide the Claimant with a written statement of employment particulars and considered it just and equitable to make an award equal to four weeks' gross pay under section 38 of the Employment Act 2002. The total sum ordered to be paid by the Respondent to the Claimant was £68,336.60.