THE INDUSTRIAL TRIBUNALS

CASE REF:    2131/10

CLAIMANT:	Julieanne Ewart

RESPONDENT:	James Smyth T/A Maxol Scarva Road Filling Station

DECISION

The decision of the tribunal Chairman sitting alone is that the claimant’s claims are well founded and the respondent is ordered to pay to the claimant the total sum of £8,629.00.

Constitution of Tribunal:

Chairman (Sitting Alone):	Ms Julie Knight

Appearances:

The claimant appeared and represented herself.

The respondent did not appear nor was represented.

Issues:

1.	Was the claimant entitled to a redundancy payment and notice pay? 

Evidence

2.	The claim was considered heard together with the claims of her former colleagues.  The tribunal considered the oral and documentary evidence of the claimant and her former colleagues before reaching a decision.

Facts

3.	The tribunal found the following facts to be proven on a balance of probabilities: 

4.	
The claimant was employed by the respondent as Manageress from 14 May 1999 until her effective date dismissal 20 May 2010.  She was not given written terms and conditions of her employment.  Approximately one week prior to the termination of her employment the respondent told the claimant that he was in financial trouble but that he had approached Maxol to arrange for the business to be taken on by someone else and that believed that the claimant’s employment and that of her colleagues would be “Tuped” over.  This did not happen and on 20 May 2010 the claimant was handed a letter by the respondent advising of his intention to enter into an Individual Voluntary Arrangement with his creditors and terminating her employment without any prior notice and without complying with the statutory dismissal procedures prescribed by Article 17 of the Employment (NI) Order. The respondent closed his business the same day.  The IVA was approved on 11 November 2010. 

5.	At the effective date of dismissal the claimant was 36 years old and had 11 full years’ service.  Her gross and net weekly pay figures were £370 and £290 respectively.  The respondent has not responded to the claimant’s requests for a redundancy payment or notice pay.  The claimant lodged her complaint with the Office of the Industrial Tribunals and the Fair Employment Tribunal on 1 September 2010.  No response was entered by or on behalf of the respondent. 

The Law

6.	Article 170 of the Employment Rights (NI) Order (the “1996 Order”) provides the right to receive a redundancy payment where, as in the present case, the employment is terminated by reason of redundancy. 

7.	Article 118 of the 1996 Order sets out the minimum statutory notice periods where, as in this case, there are no contractual notice terms.  The claimant is entitled to statutory notice pay equivalent to 11 weeks’ net pay. 

8.	An employer is required to provide his employees with a written statement of particulars of employment.  Article 27 of the Employment (NI) Order 2003 (the “2003 Order”) provides that the tribunal shall make a minimum award of two weeks’ gross pay.  This does not require a specific claim for the additional award. 

9.	The statutory dismissal procedures apply to claims for redundancy payments and notice pay.  Article 17(3) provides for an increase of the award where the statutory procedure has not, as in this case been completed due to the fault of the employer. 

10.	I therefore determine that the claimant is entitled to an award of compensation calculated as follows: 

Redundancy Pay

£370 x 11 x 1(age multiplier)	£4,070.00

Notice Pay

£290.35 x 11	£3,193.85

Article 27 2003 Order award	   £580.70

Article 17(3) 10% uplift	   £784.45

Total Award	£8,629.00

This is a relevant decision for the purposes of the Industrial Tribunals (Interest) Order (NI) 1990.

Chairman:

Date and place of hearing:     27 January 2011, Belfast.

Date decision recorded in register and issued to parties: