We look at a new holiday pay ruling in Lock v British Gas Trading Ltd ECJ 22.5.14 (C-539/12), and predict a flurry of claims for compensation for employees paid by commission.
Lock v British Gas Trading Ltd is a new decision from the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on holiday pay which is expected to have widespread repercussions for people who work on a commission basis and their employers. Employers who have paid holiday pay at the basic rate (ie without commission) to employees for whom commission is an intrinsic part of their pay package now face compensation claims for backdated holiday pay.
The court ruled that a worker’s right to paid annual leave under the EU Working Time Directive was infringed when his future remuneration was reduced because he had been unable to generate commission while on holiday. This represented a deferred financial disadvantage that was capable of deterring workers from taking annual leave, contrary to the purpose of the Directive. The commission payments were directly and intrinsically linked to the claimant’s work and so formed part of his normal remuneration. Accordingly, he was entitled to receive additional sums in respect of annual leave representing commission he would have earned had he not taken that leave, the method of calculation being for the national court to assess.
The implications of this decision are still being considered but it seems certain that it will cost British employers many millions of pounds in compensation for backdated pay.
If you have been employed on a commission basis and think you may be eligible for backdated holiday pay compensation then call us now on 0808 139 1606 or email [email protected] for a free, no obligation chat and details of our No Win-No Fee funding scheme.
