💼 Recovering Unpaid Wages & Money Owed as a UK Employee #

Has your employer failed to pay your wages, severance, commission, or holiday pay?
Whether you’re dealing with late payments, wrongful deductions, or an insolvent company, you have legal rights to recover what you’re owed.

⚠ Don’t wait too long! There are strict time limits on employment claims.

📌 What Can You Claim? #

Employees in the UK can recover several types of unpaid earnings, including:

🔹 Unpaid Wages & Salary #

✅ Basic Pay – Regular salary or hourly wages.
✅ Overtime – Any extra hours you’ve worked but haven’t been paid for.
✅ Bonuses (Contractual) – Bonuses agreed in your contract.
✅ Earned Commission – Sales or performance-based commissions you’ve rightfully earned.

🔹 Severance & Redundancy Pay #

✅ Statutory Redundancy Pay – If you’re eligible, based on length of service.
✅ Contractual Redundancy Pay – Extra pay if your contract includes enhanced redundancy terms.
✅ Pay in Lieu of Notice – If your employer ends your job without proper notice.

🔹 Holiday Pay & Benefits #

✅ Unused Holiday Pay – If you weren’t paid for unused holiday days.
✅ Outstanding Holiday Pay – If you took leave but weren’t paid for it.

🔹 Pension Contributions #

✅ Unpaid Employer Contributions – Missing payments into your workplace pension.
✅ Impact on Future Pension – Unpaid contributions may affect your retirement savings.

🔹 Reimbursable Work Expenses #

✅ Travel & Business Expenses – Unpaid costs related to work.
✅ Other Approved Expenses – Any work-related expenses your employer agreed to reimburse.

🛠 Steps to Take Now #

1️⃣ 🔍 Gather Evidence – Keep records of:
✔ Payslips, employment contract, emails, and expense claims.
✔ Timesheets (especially if claiming overtime).
✔ Any written promises of bonuses or commissions.

2️⃣ 📞 Speak to Your Employer
✔ Stay professional – Clearly explain what you’re owed.
✔ Document the conversation – Date, time, people involved, and what was discussed.
✔ Consider mediation – If the employer is open to discussion.

3️⃣ 📄 File a Formal Grievance (If They Refuse to Pay)
✔ Write a clear, detailed grievance letter following company policy.
✔ Keep copies of all communication.

4️⃣ ⚖ ACAS Early Conciliation (Mandatory Before Tribunal)
✔ ACAS helps settle disputes for free before legal action.
✔ If unresolved, ACAS issues a certificate, allowing you to go to tribunal.

⚖ Taking Legal Action: Employment Tribunal Claims #

If your employer still won’t pay, you can file a claim in the Employment Tribunal.

✅ Time Limit – You must file your claim within 3 months minus 1 day from when payment was due. (Strict deadline!)
✅ How to Apply – Complete an ET1 claim form online.
✅ Legal Fees – Some claims have fees, but you may be eligible for fee waivers.
✅ Hearing Process – You’ll present your case before a tribunal judge.
✅ Legal Representation – You can represent yourself or hire a solicitor.

📌 Learn more about the Employment Tribunal process.

🏢 Employer Insolvency: What If the Company Has Shut Down? #

If your employer has gone into administration or liquidation, you can still claim:

✅ Submit a “Proof of Debt” form to the insolvency practitioner.
✅ Claim redundancy pay & wages from the Redundancy Payments Service (RPS).
✅ Employee claims are prioritized over most other debts.

📌 Check your rights on claiming wages from an insolvent employer.

🔹 Key Takeaways & Next Steps #

✔ Act Fast – Legal deadlines are strict.
✔ Gather Evidence – Payslips, contracts, emails, and expense claims are crucial.
✔ Try Informal Resolution – Speak to your employer first if possible.
✔ Use ACAS Early Conciliation – Required before legal action.
✔ Consider an Employment Tribunal – If your employer won’t cooperate.

📌 Need urgent help? Start by reading our Immediate Steps to Recover Wages.

📚 More Resources #

🔹 Debt Recovery Guide – For businesses and freelancers.
🔹 Employment Tribunal Information – UK Gov guide.
🔹 How to Claim Money from an Insolvent Employer – Step-by-step process.

💡 Don’t let unpaid wages go unchallenged. Take action today! 🚀