Axed sk:n group staff to consider legal action
Staff made redundant by the sk:n group are considering taking legal action after staff were not pre-warned or consulted about job losses.
Former staff told Leeds-based Morrish Solicitors that their redundancies were suddenly announced at around 11am on July 17, just shortly after many of them arrived on shift. This was without pre-warning or any attempt by the company to inform and consult about the redundancies, as legislation requires.
Staff were told on a Teams call that the group’s 70 clinics around the UK were closing immediately.
Many affected staff members are now pursuing a protective award claim, as when there are 20 or more redundancies made at one workplace without an information and consultation process, those made redundant can pursue a claim for compensation of up to 90 days’ gross pay.
If successful, those involved in these legal proceedings could recover up to £5,600 (gross) depending on their weekly pay and subject to deductions.
Rakhee Jadav, who was a senior practitioner, and had worked for the company since 2015 said: “We collectively found out about the redundancies as an entire group on 17 July, before our shift started. We were then directed to call and cancel all clients for that day, shocked and emotionally charged with the news that we are redundant with no pay, and to stop trading immediately.
“We were expected to stay behind and explain this to our loyal customers who had invested £1,000s in treatments. Not only were we anxious about their reaction — we were terrified of the uncertainty of how we are going to pay our bills, rents and mortgages; and support our children, families and ourselves at the end of the month.”
A week on from the closure, Jadav says that the only contact staff have had from a senior member of the company is to contact the government and apply for universal credit.
Jadav added “We were given a case reference number to apply for government aid for redundancy. I do recommend more of the Sk:n Group staff, no matter what department they were in, to contact Morrish Solicitors — the team there has been really helpful explaining to me what compensation is available for people who are in this devastating situation.”
Omar Ghaffoor, employment solicitor at Morrish Solicitors, is assisting former staff to explore the possibility of pursuing a protective award claim.
Ghaffoor said: “The rules on informing and consulting with staff representatives about redundancies, in plenty of time before redundancies are made, are there to protect employees and help mitigate the effects of possible redundancy. Without such a process, I can only imagine the stress and worry this has caused them and their families.”
