Mr J Jones and others v Consumer Choices Ltd (in Administration) and Secretary of State for Business and Trade: 1805553/2023 and others
REASONS
[1]It is clear from the written representations and supporting documentation submitted on 12th December 2023 by the lead Claimant, Mr J Jones, on behalf of all claimants that there was no consultation before dismissing as redundant more than 20 employees at a single establishment, Unit 7 Callflex Business Park, Wath upon Dearne, Rotherham.[2]Absent any trade union or elected employee representatives each employee so dismissed, which includes all the individually named Claimants, is entitled to present a claim for a protective award.[3]There has been no Response submitted on behalf of the First Respondent, and therefore no explanation offered for the failure to consult even though it is apparent that the company was in financial difficulties and therefore sought advice from insolvency practitioners, now the appointed administrators as early as 13th June 2023.[4]It is therefore just and equitable to make the awards for the maximum 90 day period (though it is acknowledged that under the relevant legislation the Second Respondent will not be obliged to make payment for that full period).[5]The Recoupment Provisions apply, though it is anticipated that no monies will actually be received directly from the insolvent former employer, but that the incidence of benefits will be separately and further accounted for under the relevant regulations when determining the amount payable by the Second Respondent from the redundancy insurance fund Employment Judge Lancaster Date: 6th January 2024 Schedule 1805553/2023 Mr Jake Jones -v- Consumer Choices 1805554/2023 Mr Jake Jones -v- Consumer Choices 1805555/2023 Mr Evan Jones -v- Consumer Choices 1805556/2023 Mr Joseph Clark -v- Consumer Choices 1805557/2023 Mr Luke Edelenyi -v- Consumer Choices 1805558/2023 Miss Cherrelle Burke -v- Consumer Choices 1805559/2023 Miss Abbie Leyland -v- Consumer Choices 1805560/2023 Mr Brandon Smith -v- Consumer Choices 1805561/2023 Miss Bobbyjo Scargill -v- Consumer Choices 1805562/2023 Mr James Grierson -v- Consumer Choices 1805563/2023 Miss Jennifer Kodaleva -v- Consumer Choices 1805564/2023 Mrs Jessica Kodaleva -v- Consumer Choices 1805565/2023 Mr Mareks Aleksandris -v- Consumer Choices 1805566/2023 Miss Heaven-Leigh Steers -v- Consumer Choices 1805567/2023 Mr Casey Marshall -v- Consumer Choices 1805568/2023 Mr Dylan Holt -v- Consumer Choices 1805569/2023 Miss Ellis Walker -v- Consumer Choices 1805570/2023 Mrs Amy Jones -v- Consumer Choices 1805571/2023 Mr Jay Samways -v- Consumer Choices 1805572/2023 Miss Kerry Roberts -v- Consumer Choices 1805573/2023 Mr Ben Vickers -v- Consumer Choices 1805574/2023 Mr Tom West -v- Consumer Choices 1805575/2023 Miss Ebony Adamson -v- Consumer Choices 1805576/2023 Mr David Hampton -v- Consumer Choices 1805577/2023 Mrs Sara Spencer -v- Consumer Choices 1805578/2023 Mr Timothy Wood -v- Consumer Choices 1805579/2023 Mr Mac Varley -v- Consumer Choices 1805580/2023 Mr Michael Kennelly -v- Consumer Choices 1805581/2023 Mr Aidan Rowley -v- Consumer Choices 1805582/2023 Mrs Sarah Beeks -v- Consumer Choices 1805583/2023 Mr Samir Ali -v- Consumer Choices 1805584/2023 Mr Alex Jessop -v- Consumer Choices 1805585/2023 Mr Owen Nightingale -v- Consumer Choices 1805586/2023 Miss Georgie Smith -v- Consumer Choices 1805587/2023 Miss Abigail Wheeler -v- Consumer Choices 1805588/2023 Miss Leigh Wheeler -v- Consumer Choices 1805589/2023 Miss Paige Miles -v- Consumer Choices 1805590/2023 Mr James Hughes-Lawson -v- Consumer Choices 1805591/2023 Mr Suneil Singh Digpal -v- Consumer Choices 1805592/2023 Mr David Griffiths -v- Consumer Choices 1805593/2023 Miss Kirstin Bowmar -v- Consumer Choices 1805594/2023 Mr Jamie Deaves -v- Consumer Choices 1805595/2023 Miss Kendal Shaw -v- Consumer Choices 1805596/2023 Mr Tom Sanders -v- Consumer Choices 1805597/2023 Mr Paul Marsh -v- Consumer Choices 1804940/2023 Mr Paul Marsh -v- Consumer Choices 1805598/2023 Mr Spencer Mockler -v- Consumer Choices 1805599/2023 Mr Lee Portman -v- Consumer Choices 1805600/2023 Miss Amy Hadfield -v- Consumer Choices 1805601/2023 Mr Richard Griffiths -v- Consumer Choices 1805602/2023 Mr James Kitching -v- Consumer Choices