Worker argued companies shared directors, office space and HR functions, making them related for employment purposes

A designer challenged his dismissal, arguing that three companies he worked for consecutively were associated entities, which would give him sufficient service to bring an unfair dismissal claim.

The worker contended the companies shared directors, office space and HR functions, making them related for employment purposes.

The employer maintained that the three companies were separate entities with different ownership structures and business operations, and that the worker had only four months' service with the dismissing company.

Employment across three companies

The parties agreed that from February 2024 to June 2025, the worker worked for three different companies. From 5 February 2024 to 4 August 2024, the worker worked for the first company. From 5 August 2024 to 9 February 2025, he worked for the second company.

And from 13 February 2025 to 13 June 2025, he worked for the third company. A director of the first and third companies submitted two witness statements. In the first, he referred to all three companies as being associated entities. In the second, he sought to correct this.

The director stated that while the first and third companies had the same two directors and shareholders, the second company's sole director and shareholder was the director's wife.

The director's evidence was that while there was cooperation between the three companies and...

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