Dumped Debenhams workers have won a £350,000 legal battle, with lawyers warning that other firms who sack staff could be next.
More than 100 of the department store workers lodged an employment tribunal claim after the shop shut its door last year.
Some former shop workers complained they were told their careers at the retail giant were over in heartless text messages and Zoom calls on the same day the business stopped trading.
Legal firm Thompsons started legal proceedings after the firm failed to consult workers that their jobs were at risk and give them 30 days’ notice.
Last week an employment tribunal ruled in their favour and made the six-figure award for workers, which equates to eight weeks’ work.
The “protective award” pay-outs are on top of statutory redundancy payments the sacked workers have received.
The bill will be footed by the taxpayer because Debenhams went bust.
But the lawyer who headed up the case has warned P&O – which ruthlessly culled over 800 seafarers before replacing them with cheaper foreign labour – that they will be next.
Debenhams, once one of the country’s success stories, made 647 Scottish workers redundant when it said it wouldn’t reopen after lockdown restrictions eased and shops were allowed to reopen.
It had gone into administration twice in recent years before calling in liquidators and selling the brand to online fast fashion giant Boohoo.
Paul Kissen, of Thompsons, said: “This will be of interest for P&O workers who have experienced something very similar.
“But since P&O is still operating, it will be expected to cover the payouts.
“The Debenhams case is a typical, and sadly too common, example of a company failing in its duty to consult collectively with employees before making them redundant.”
The legal firm has headed up a number of similar cases in recent years, including when Glasgow-based Watt Brothers folded in 2019.
Last week P&O Ferries announced it would start sailings from Scotland to Northern Ireland again this weekend after its shock mass sacking.
Scottish Labour MSP Monica Lennon, who branded P&O boss Peter Hebblethwaite the “most hated man in Britain”, said: “There are laws to protect workers, like Debenhams staff, and I hope P&O are challenged in similar cases in the future.”
Last month it was revealed P&O was preparing a £36.5million war chest to pay off dumped seafarers. P&O was contacted for comment.
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