Unpaid wages and holiday pay solicitors

If your employer has not paid your wages, holiday pay, notice, bonus or commission, or has taken money from your pay without your agreement, you can claim it back. Most cases are settled once the employer receives a clear letter or an Acas call. We act for workers across England and Wales by phone or video, or at our Manchester office.

Key points

Workers as well as employees can claim, from the first day of work.
A tribunal claim must be started within six months less one day of the date the payment was due, after contacting Acas.
A claim for a series of deductions can go back up to two years.
You are entitled to an itemised payslip, and to at least 5.6 weeks' paid holiday a year.

What you can claim

Unpaid or short-paid wages, including overtime, bonus and commission you have earned.
Deductions your employer had no right to make.
Holiday pay, including pay for holiday you had built up when you left.
Notice pay.
Pay below the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage.
Statutory sick pay, maternity pay and redundancy pay.

Unlawful deductions from wages

Section 13 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 says an employer can only deduct from your pay where the law requires it (tax and National Insurance), your contract allows it, or you agreed in writing before the deduction was made. Paying you less than you are owed counts as a deduction. Where there is a series of deductions, the claim can cover up to two years before the claim is presented.

Holiday pay

Almost all workers are entitled to 5.6 weeks' paid holiday a year under the Working Time Regulations 1998, which is 28 days for someone working five days a week. Holiday pay should reflect your normal pay, including regular overtime and commission, for at least four of those weeks. When you leave, you are paid for holiday you have accrued and not taken. People who work irregular hours or part of the year accrue holiday at 12.07% of the hours they work.

Notice pay and final pay

If you are dismissed without the notice your contract or the statutory minimum gives you, you can claim the pay for that period. That is a claim for wrongful dismissal. A tribunal can award up to £25,000 for breach of contract. Larger claims go to the county court or High Court, where the time limit is six years.

What to do first

Check your contract and payslips and work out the shortfall.
Ask your employer in writing to pay, and give a date.
If that fails, raise a grievance.
Contact Acas for early conciliation before the time limit runs out.
Bring a tribunal claim if it has not been paid.

We can do each step for you or check what you have drafted.

What it costs

We assess your case first and agree how you will pay, and what it will cost, before any work starts. A first consultation is £100 for half an hour or £180 for an hour. Typical costs for a tribunal claim are on our fees page.

Questions people ask

How long do I have to claim unpaid wages?

Six months less one day from the date the payment was due, where that date is on or after 1 October 2026. For a series of deductions the time runs from the last one. You must contact Acas first.

Can my employer deduct money for mistakes or till shortages?

Only if your contract allows it or you agreed in writing beforehand. In retail work, deductions for shortages are limited to 10% of gross pay on any pay day.

Am I owed holiday pay when I leave?

Yes. You are paid for holiday you have accrued and not taken up to your leaving date.

Can I claim if I am a worker, not an employee?

Yes. Claims for wages and holiday pay are open to workers, including many people on zero-hours and casual contracts.

My employer has gone bust. Can I still get paid?

You may be able to claim wages, holiday pay, notice and redundancy pay from the Insolvency Service, up to statutory limits.