A BASILDON depot worker has won a £7,000 payout after a judge ruled he had been underpaid for 12 months.

The worker, named only as M Clavier in employment tribunal documents, complained there had been unauthorised deductions from wages between November 2022 and December 2023.

Mr Claiver was working at the Argos Pipps Hill depot which was later taken over by DHL.

The claimant had been employed as an LGV Driver of the respondent since October 2011, and the tribunal heard he is a “well-regarded employee with a positive work record”.

On July 2022, the claimant transferred to the Basildon depot.

The tribunal hearing stated: “It is fair to say he has been unhappy following this transfer and has been constantly seeking a transfer to Maidstone depot.

“The claimant was not given a contract of employment specifying the change of location and changes to his contractual terms until May 30, 2023. The claimant asserts his prior employment contract terms carried over on his transfer to Basildon depot, including his rates of pay. He does not accept the terms given to him in May 2023.”

At the date of transfer, the claimant’s role involved delivery and installation on behalf of Argos. His salary was £39,411.

This included a weekly sum of £208 for installing washing machines on behalf of Argos.

The report adds: “The notes show the claimant was told his currently salary was £39,411, it would increase post-transfer to £39,561 based on receiving London Weighting ‘for every hour you work’.”

The claimant went on sick leave in November 2022 and was paid approximately £709 a month less. The respondent’s case is that because he was on sickness absence, he was not entitled to London Weighting.

The tribunal concluded: “At no time during the consultation process was the claimant told in writing what the proposed new contract terms would be, or the implications of the proposed contract, no mention was made about the implications on sick pay entitlement at any stage, no reference was made to a collective agreement applying at any stage. The claimant argues that the total he has been underpaid since November 1, 2022 is £7,056 gross wages.”

The tribunal calculated a loss of £709 pcm from November 2022 to April 2023, and £354.50 per month from May 2023 to December 2023.

DHL has been ordered to pay the loss in wages. DHL and Argos were contacted for comment.