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 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, he took no holiday as he and his PA were the only full-time staff. Directors refused 200 holiday days between 1988 and 1996. His annual entitlement increased from 30 to 45 days in 1996, and by 1998, a formal agreement was made for him 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 backs. He said: 'I was sole signatory for the company for a period exceeding 20 years and could have signed off payments for me and my PA each year when we could not utilise the holidays. However, I did not do that.'
The agreement was in place for decades, but in May 2022 the board was replaced. New directors slowly removed his duties, and in March 2024 he was fired for gross misconduct without being allowed to appeal. He was also told he would not be paid for the 827 unpaid holiday days.
Employment Judge George Alliott agreed Mr Ageli had been mistreated and ordered Sabtina to pay the full holiday pay plus £91,490 for unfair dismissal and a basic award of £14,070.
