Successful Protective Award Claim for Styles & Wood Employees
In February 2020, Manchester-based fit-out firm, Styles & Wood entered administration making over 250 employees redundant without consultation.
Morrish Solicitors’ successfully secured a 90-day protective award for 150 of those former Styles & Wood employees.
Styles & Wood Employees
Styles & Wood had debts of more than £100m when it collapsed at the start of 2020. The company was brought down by cashflow problems resulting from major losses on three large contracts, which created problems when paying suppliers.
As a result, 216 employees lost their jobs immediately without any prior notice or consultation and other redundancies followed.
Before making employees redundant, Styles & Wood should have engaged in an information and consultation process. The failure to do so meant that those former employees were entitled to what is called ‘Protective Award’ compensation. Morrish Solicitors, the leading protective award law firm pursued the legal action on behalf of 150 of those affected.
Claims have now been made to the Redundancy Payments Service (RPS), part of the Government’s Insolvency Service, which guarantees up to 8 weeks of the debt owed to them from the National Insurance Fund and led to awards as much as £4,304 gross.
Our Head of Employment, Daniel Kindell, who represented the group commented:
“These employees were left without employment without any notice or warning whatsoever and with such large numbers in the job market at the same time, I can’t imagine the stress and worry they suffered. The information and consultation process is designed by law to give employees prior warning that they are at risk and ensure that alternative avenues are explored. If possible, ways of avoiding redundancies, minimising the numbers or mitigating the circumstances must be agreed upon with representatives. The process was completely flouted and so we’re delighted to have been able to secure deserved compensation for such a large number.”
Protective Award Claims
Morrish Solicitors is a long-established law firm with an experienced team of Employment Solicitors specialising in protective award claims. We have represented thousands of people affected by insolvency and are experts in these types of claims. Protective award claims are complex and often misunderstood therefore it’s essential to secure legal advice and representation from specialists for the best chance of success.
If you are 1 of 20 or more employees who have been made redundant at the same workplace without consultation, please contact us on 033 3344 9603 or simply email [email protected].
