header-logo header-logo

Landmark judgment on underpaid holiday claims

10 October 2023
Issue: 8044 / Categories: Legal News , Employment
printer mail-detail
Employment lawyers have welcomed a Supreme Court ruling that gaps of three months or more do not break a series of holiday underpayments when employees are bringing claims

The landmark judgment last week, Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland v Agnew [2023] UKSC 33, means thousands of police staff in Northern Ireland can claim up to 35 years' worth of miscalculated holiday pay.

The claimants, police officers and civilian staff, brought claims for miscalculated holiday pay dating back to 1998. The dispute concerned whether a statutory provision applied, time-barring claims for underpayments going back further than three months.

Colin Godfrey, employment lawyer at Taylor Wessing, said: ‘This means that gaps of more than three months will no longer prevent individuals bringing claims for a series of underpaid holidays.’

Andy Williams, partner, Stevens & Bolton, said: ‘Until [this judgment], the position in England, Wales and Scotland had been governed by the Employment Appeal Tribunal’s (EAT) 2013 finding in the case of Bear Scotland [Bear Scotland Ltd v Fulton [2015] ICR 221 (EAT)], that a gap of more than three months in a series of underpayments was sufficient to extinguish the right to bring claims in respect of any earlier underpayments. 

‘Likewise, the EAT inferred that making a payment for holiday at the correct rate of pay could also break a series of deductions. The EAT’s finding in Bear Scotland has come under criticism and [this] judgment will come as no surprise to many.

‘The Supreme Court’s judgment will be of grave concern to many employers, as it greatly increases the potential cost of historic holiday pay claims. Employers in Great Britain (ie those in England, Wales and Scotland) may still, however, take comfort from the two year limit on historic holiday pay claims [under the Deduction from Wages (Limitation) Regulations 2014].’  

Issue: 8044 / Categories: Legal News , Employment
printer mail-details

MOVERS & SHAKERS

NLJ Career Profile: Maria Karaiskos KC, Church Court Chambers

NLJ Career Profile: Maria Karaiskos KC, Church Court Chambers

Maria Karaiskos KC, recently appointed as the first female head of Church Court Chambers, discusses breaking down barriers, the lure of the courtroom, and the power of storytelling

Cripps—Simon Main

Cripps—Simon Main

Firm strengthens residential property team with partner hire

Hugh James—Danielle Cahill

Hugh James—Danielle Cahill

Private wealth disputes team welcomes partner in London

NEWS
In a very special tribute in this week's NLJ, David Burrows reflects on the retirement of Patrick Allen, co-founder of Hodge Jones & Allen, whose career epitomised the heyday of legal aid
Writing in NLJ this week, Kelvin Rutledge KC of Cornerstone Barristers and Genevieve Screeche-Powell of Field Court Chambers examine the Court of Appeal’s rejection of a discrimination challenge to Tower Hamlets’ housing database
Michael Zander KC, Emeritus Professor at LSE, tracks the turbulent passage of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill through the House of Lords in this week's issue of NLJ. Two marathon debates drew contributions from nearly 200 peers, split between support, opposition and conditional approval
Alistair Mills of Landmark Chambers reflects on the Human Rights Act 1998 a quarter-century after it came into force, in this week's issue of NLJ
In his latest Civil Way column for NLJ, Stephen Gold surveys a raft of procedural changes and quirky disputes shaping civil practice. His message is clear: civil practitioners must brace for continual tweaks, unexpected contentions and rising costs in everyday litigation
back-to-top-scroll