Sacked worker gets £12k payout

A delivery driver and warehouseman from Staffordshire who complained he was sacked "out of the blue" has been awarded more than £12,000 in compensation.

Steven Paxton says he has made 30 job applications since he lost his job.

He told Birmingham Employment Tribunal he was only able to get one interview – which was unsuccessful. The award was made against Cannock-based Shinglers of Sutton, who supply candles and religious equipment to churches, after confusion over who his employers were.

Mr Paxton, of Millmoor Avenue, Armitage, near Rugeley, told the tribunal he had been employed by Shinglers of Sutton but tribunal chairwoman Mary Cocks said the tribunal had received a letter – in the firm's absence – claiming that the name of the firm was M & L Trading Ltd, which denied employing Mr Paxton.

Mr Paxton said: "This is unbelievable. The M and L stands for the christian names of the Shinglers and I was definitely employed by Shinglers of Sutton.

"To add to the confusion the name has been changed again since I was dismissed – to Shinglers International."

Mr Paxton was claiming compensation for unfair dismissal and unpaid wages after complaining he was sacked "out of the blue" after turning up for work.

"The firm said it was losing money," said Mr Paxton. "A work colleague was sacked by the same firm a few months ago and he is still trying to get his award from the Shinglers after taking them to the tribunal."

Mr Paxton complained that he was dismissed with the firm failing to carry out the statutory dismissal procedure under the Employment Rights Act.

Ms Cocks said she was satisfied Shinglers of Sutton had been Mr Paxton's employers and ordered them to pay him £12,272.

She said the amount included £2,655 to compensate Mr Paxton for loss of work. The award also incudes a 50 per cent increase because of the firm's Employment Rights Act breach," she said.