Ashwani Kumar, a store manager at a Papa John's franchise in Harlow, Essex, successfully sued his employers after they called the police to remove him from the restaurant for refusing cash-in-hand payment and insisting on paying taxes.
Dispute over payment methods
Kumar worked for EEM London Ltd, EEM Holdings Ltd, and owner Abdul Sattar Askar from February 2023. At the start of his contract, he rejected an offer to work cash-in-hand for £7.50 an hour, instead demanding official payslips to ensure tax and National Insurance were properly paid. However, he later discovered through HMRC that the payslips were fake and taxes were never remitted.
Police involvement and dismissal
On January 25, 2025, after returning from authorized holiday in India, Kumar was told there was no work at the Harlow store. Management offered a position at another location only if he accepted cash-in-hand payments. When he refused and insisted on working, police were called to remove him. Officers advised him to take the matter to an employment tribunal.
Additional violations
The tribunal heard that Kumar never received holiday pay during his two-year employment, with the company falsely claiming he wasn't entitled. He was also unpaid for December 2024, owing £2,040.39 in net wages. When he complained, the company's solicitors threatened defamation proceedings. Kumar proceeded with his claim.
Tribunal ruling
Employment Judge Jones ruled in July 2026 that Kumar was automatically unfairly dismissed for asserting statutory rights to itemized payslips, lawful tax deductions, and paid holiday. The respondents, who failed to attend the hearing, were also found liable for unauthorized wage deductions and failure to pay notice pay. A future hearing will determine compensation.
Papa John's stated they take the findings seriously but noted the matter involves an independently owned franchise and are challenging the judgment.
