Employees from two Manchester companies win protective award

Nearly 100 staff from two separate companies are celebrating a legal victory over their employers in the Employment Tribunal.

Protective award for redundancy

Both sets of employees, 64 of them from Be Money Savvy and 28 staff from Manchester Design and Build were not properly consulted when they were made redundant last year and so made a Protective Award Claim against their employers.

In both cases, the employer failed to consult with employees and staff representatives and breached the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.

Protective award compensation

Staff at Be Money Savvy, who worked at offices in St George House, Peter Street, were awarded 90 days' pay each in a judgment totalling £420,000. Whilst the 28 staff at Manchester Design and Build in Spring Gardens secured the same individual 90 days' pay in a £350,000 judgment at the Employment Tribunal.

Employment Partner and Solicitor, Alan Lewis, of Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers who worked with the employees has vast experience in protective award claims and helped to secure the judgment.

Alan Lewis, who led the protective award claims on the basis that the correct redundancy procedures were not followed said upon receiving the judgment:

“If you lose your job through administration, it’s important to seek what you are entitled to, and this is a real triumph for every one of the claimants. If employers did not consult with the appropriate representatives, then any employees made redundant can make a claim, as was the case here.

“Sadly, we are seeing companies across all sectors struggling and unfortunately some go into administration and close their businesses, but correct procedures must still be adhered to. Provided 20 or more employees are made redundant at the same establishment (usually a head office, warehouse, or individual store), all affected employees can pursue a claim for a protective award, regardless of how long they have been employed by the business,” added Alan.

“Now the judgment has been issued, the Protective Award Claim team at Pearson Solicitors in Manchester are taking steps to ensure that each claimant receives their award that is guaranteed by the government’s Redundancy Payments Service.”

How can we help

Pearson Solicitors specialise in helping redundant employees make claims. For legal advice on employee rights or making a protective award claim contact our employment law solicitors on 0161 785 3500 or email enquiries@pearsonlegal.co.uk.

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Please note that the information and opinions contained in this article are not intended to be comprehensive, nor to provide legal advice. No responsibility for its accuracy or correctness is assumed by Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers Ltd or any of its members or employees. Professional legal advice should be obtained before taking, or refraining from taking, any action as a result of this article.