A real estate manager has been awarded nearly £400,000 by an employment tribunal after accumulating 827 unpaid holiday days over 25 years. Mossadek 'Moss' Ageli, who worked for the Libyan-owned firm Sabtina Limited, was consistently unable to take annual leave due to operational demands.
The Watford Employment Tribunal ruled Mr Ageli was owed £392,000 for accrued holiday dating back to 1998, in addition to £105,000 compensation for unfair dismissal. Mr Ageli joined Sabtina in 1987, initially as deputy managing director before becoming commercial manager.
In the early years, between 1987 and 1989, he took no holiday as he and his PA were the only full-time staff. Directors refused 200 of his holiday days between 1988 and 1996. His annual holiday entitlement increased from 30 to 45 days in 1996. By 1998, he formalised an agreement with the company to be paid for untaken holiday.
Mr Ageli told the tribunal he had permission from the company's owners and did not go behind their back. He said: 'I was sole signatory for the company for a period exceeding 20 years and could have signed off payments for me and also my PA each year when we could not utilise the holidays. However, I did not do that even though it was within my remit to execute.'
In 2001 and 2004 he was paid £15,000 in lieu of holiday, showing the agreement was in place. But in May 2022 the board of directors was replaced. The new directors demanded documentation and began removing duties until he had no role. In March 2024 he was fired for gross misconduct, which he denied.
Employment Judge George Alliott agreed Mr Ageli had been mistreated and ordered the company to pay the full holiday pay and compensation. The judge said: 'I find that it was agreed between [Mr Ageli] and [Sabtina] that, with effect from the start of his employment, any unused holiday would be recorded and any unused entitlement would roll forward each year.'
