MONTHS of bouncing pay cheques drove Jennifer Wilson to quit her job at Beauty and the East, an employment tribunal heard yesterday.
Miss Wilson had worked at the salon, which has since closed its two branches, for four years before handing in her notice on 18 September.
She told the tribunal that some pay cheques had had to be presented several times before clearing, leaving her waiting for nearly a month for her money.
She said she had never received an explanation from the proprietor, Rosalind Evans, despite reporting the problem to the salon manager.
‘I knew of others in my situation. There were a couple of girls who had to go to Petty Debts for their wages, and I know that others also asked the manager to let Mrs Evans know they weren’t receiving wages,’ said Miss Wilson, who said there was no other reason for her resignation.
She worked her last day on 29 September but did not receive her final salary cheque due at the beginning of October.
She telephoned Mrs Evans – who terminated the conversation – before seeking legal advice and starting Petty Debts proceedings.
Claiming that her employer’s conduct had amounted to constructive dismissal, Miss Wilson’s advocate, Paul Richardson, sought an award of £9,500, the equivalent of six months of her average gross earnings.
‘On this basis there has to have been a fundamental breach of conduct by the employer and there is no bigger breach than not paying wages for work that’s been done,’ he said.
Mrs Evans did not attend the hearing, but tribunal chairman Stephen Jones and panel members Peter Woodward and Georgette Scott decided to proceed on the basis she had received adequate notification. A decision is expected in the next three weeks.
Beauty and the East ceased trading at the OGH earlier in the month because it was unable to pay rent.
The Mallard branch has also shut, but Mrs Evans told the Guernsey Press this week that that was due to its manager unexpectedly having to leave and she was trying to sort out the situation.
Article posted on 27th February, 2008 - 12.00pm
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