Stagecoach pays £41k in dismissal case

Greater Manchester Buses (South) – (Stagecoach Manchester) has been ordered to pay £41,000 to former employee Jayson Andrews for discrimination and harassment, by the Manchester Employment Tribunal.

Driver Andrews, who has a disability, suffered discrimination and harassment, because his shift pattern affected his life-threatening condition (which remains confidential). He resigned from Stagecoach, after struggling to maintain regular attendance at the company’s Stockport depot because of the effects of his medication.

After an initial hearing lasting five days, the Tribunal panel announced that Mr Andrews was harassed and unlawfully discriminated against by Stagecoach and that they had breached their obligation to make adjustments to help and support Mr Andrews.

After a further hearing to decide on an appropriate remedy for Mr Andrews, the Tribunal awarded Mr Andrews just short of £41,000, with an injury to feelings award of £16,500.

Danielle Ayres of Gorvins Solicitors, represented his claims for wrongful dismissal, disability discrimination and constructive unfair dismissal. She said that the Tribunal ruled that Mr Andrews should not have been given formal warnings about his sickness absence related to his condition. “Nor should he have been told that his job was at risk if his attendance did not improve.”

“Stagecoach failed to support Mr Andrews by not providing him with a shift pattern or alternative work, that would have enabled him to take his medication at set times each day and attend specialist clinic appointments.”