Assistant finance controller loses claim for unfair dismissal (From Redditch Advertiser)

Assistant finance controller loses claim for unfair dismissal

1:40pm Thursday 14th March 2013 in News

A REDDITCH assistant finance controller who complained he was exhausted and prone to panic attacks after working long hours has lost a compensation claim for unfair dismissal.

Michael Fletcher, of Astwood Bank, had been employed by Lear Corporation Ltd of Hedera Road, Redditch, and earned £45,000 a year.

The Lear Corporation is a national organisation in car accessories with a multi million pound annual turnover, Birmingham Employment Tribunal was told.

Mr Fletcher made his compensation claim for unfair dismissal against the respondents under the Working Time Regulations after complaining he did not always have 11 hour breaks between his shifts.

The tribunal was told that one of the busiest times for Mr Fletcher was stock taking and that he could work well in excess of a 48 hour week.

Mr Fletcher had also been given more tasks than was intended, it was alleged.

He further raised queries about his national insurance and pension contributions.

He joined the firm in 2011 but later suffered from stress, panic attacks and exhaustion.

He was later absent from work and eventually dismissed.

A compensation claim for disability discrimination did not go ahead.

The firm opposed Mr Fletcher’s claim for unfair dismissal and said he had been dismissed on capability grounds.

His technical ability had been described, however, as very good.

Tribunal judge Robin Balmain described Mr Fletcher’s work at Redditch as demanding and said he accepted he had worked long hours.

Mr Balmain said, however, that Mr Fletcher had failed to provide dates and times in evidence about his work and rejected his unfair dismissal claim.

The respondents agreed with Mr Balmain’s suggestion that they should look at Mr Fletcher’s complaints about his national insurance and pension contributions.