Employment tribunal success for young groom

A young groom who brought a successful employment tribunal against her former boss says she hopes her case will encourage other stable staff to pursue similar claims.

Miss Mates, who is 21, worked for Jane Heerbeck at her yard in Melton Mowbray, Leics, from April to June 2012.

But she did not get on with Mrs Heerbeck and, when she resigned, did not receive her final month’s wages in full.

“I was only paid a small amount of what I was owed,” said Miss Mates.

“She’d deducted random sums for certain things, such as clearing out my horse’s stable — which I’d done before I left.”

Miss Mates was also owed holiday pay.

With the help of her father, who is a lawyer, her case was heard at the Leicester employment tribunal on 20 December 2012.

The judge ordered that Mrs Heerbeck pay Miss Mates £527 for the “unauthorised deduction” and unpaid holiday pay, plus £401 for failing to provide her with written terms and conditions of her employment.

Miss Mates, who now has a job on an event yard, said she was “thrilled” with the results.

“It has been very stressful and took a long time.

“Withholding of wages is a common problem for grooms leaving jobs.

I hope this will encourage others to pursue claims and realise that the tribunal service recognises our work is as valid as any other form of employment,” she added.

Mrs Heerbeck told H&H she would be appealing the judgement. She did not wish to comment further.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (24 January 2013)

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