Worker accepts pay out

Renate Spickenreuther, of Brantwood Close, was employed at Executive Trading Ltd, of Westwood Road, Droitwich, as a personal assistant to the firm's managing director Sabina Carter.

The firm exports British-made high quality goods to Germany.

Mrs Spickenreuther lost a compensation claim for unfair dismissal against the firm at a tribunal hearing some weeks ago on a technical point.

Mrs Spickenreuther and Ms Carter were said to have been in dispute with each other.

But Mrs Spickenreuther complained she was owed money by the firm and took her claim to a new tribunal hearing.

At the latest hearing she claimed £325 in unpaid wages, £380 holiday pay, £137 in mileage while carrying out shopping trips to Worcester and Malvern for Ms Carter, £302 for the time spent shopping and £35 in expenses.

Mrs Spickenreuther also sought compensation for a plant container which she said had not been returned to her. But tribunal chairman Ron Hutchinson said claims involving personal property were a civil proceedings matter.

Ms Carter told the tribunal she had paid Mrs Spickenreuther her wages and that the mileage claim appeared to be an "after event", although she did not dispute it.

"There had been no need for this to go to a tribunal because I had already offered Mrs Spickenreuther £800 but she would not take it," said Ms Carter.

Asked by Mr Hutchinson if this was true, Mrs Spickenreuther agreed but said there had been stipulations.

"I also had tribunal claims on hand and that's why I did not accept the money," she said.

Ms Carter agreed to settle the claim at the tribunal and wrote a cheque for £854 - £380 for holiday pay and £474 for unpaid wages, which Mrs Spickenreuther accepted.

Mrs Spickenreuther, who is disabled, said after the hearing: "I was most unhappy working at the firm."

Ms Carter said: "There were problems. But I had a stairlift installed to help her at our premises."