Disability Discrimination – Compensation

The employee, Mrs. Wright-Turner, held the position of Director of Public Service Reform at Hammersmith and Fulham Borough Council for less than nine months. She suffers from ADHD and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which the Tribunal found were disabilities at the relevant time and the employer knew about. Mrs. Wright-Turner was signed off sick with PTSD and her probationary period extended without consultation or notice. She was then dismissed prior to the end of her extended probationary period whilst she was still on sick leave. Mrs. Wright-Turner raised a grievance and appealed against her dismissal, but the employer did not deal with them.

The Tribunal found that Mrs. Wright-Turner was dismissed because of her PTSD and that senior officers at the council, including the chief executive, had tried to deliberately mislead her and the Tribunal. They found the Council did not adequately consider extending probationary period as an alternative to dismissal.