Department for Work and Pensions

Case Summary

The claimant brought claims of disability discrimination and failure to make reasonable adjustments against the Department for Work and Pensions. The claim was dismissed in full under Rule 47 of the Employment Tribunal Procedure Rules 2024 due to the claimant's failure to attend the hearing and lack of contact with the tribunal.

The claim was dismissed under Rule 47 because the claimant failed to attend the hearing and had not been in contact with the respondent's solicitors since early December 2025 or provided any correspondence to the tribunal, and the judge determined that dismissal was in furtherance of the overriding objective to avoid further time and costs being wasted.

• •discrimination arising from disability
• •failure to make reasonable adjustments
• •non-attendance at hearing

1 EMPLOYMENT TRIBUNALS Claimant Miss H. Cook Respondent Department for Work and Pensions. Heard at: Manchester (by CVP) On: 11 February 2026 Before: Judge Callan (sitting alone) Representation Claimant: Did not attend For the Respondent: Ms. B. Venkata, counsel JUDGMENT The proceedings are dismissed in full under Rule 47 Employment Tribunal Procedure Rules 2024. REASONS 1. Today’s hearing was listed to be heard by CVP for case management purposes. 2. The claim relates to allegations of discrimination arising from disability and failure to make reasonable adjustments. The claimant’s employment was continuing. The claimant gave her contact details and indicated that she preferred to be contacted by post. 3. The Notice of Hearing was sent by post to the claimant on 8 July 2025, together with the Agenda proforma to assist with preparation for today’s hearing. The Notice of Hearing directed the claimant to return the completed form to the Tribunal, copying in the respondent, seven days before the hearing. No completed Agenda was received from the claimant. 4. Ms. Venkata told me that the claimant had not had been in contact with those instructing her for a considerable period. The respondent’s solicitors had 2 attempted to contact the claimant in respect of completing the Agenda and a Draft List of Issues since in or about early December 2025, but without success. 5. A search of the Tribunal’s email inbox did not reveal any correspondence from the claimant. 6. I waited until 2.30 pm to see if the claimant would attend. She did not appear, and nor was she represented at the hearing. Relevant provision 7. Rule 47 of The Employment Tribunal Procedure Rules 2024 provides as follows: “47. If a party fails to attend or to be represented at a hearing the Tribunals may…