A REDDITCH design consultant dealing in bathrooms and bedrooms for B&Q complained he was “undermined and set up to fail” following an issue over sales targets.

Andrew Brown, of Lodge Park, eventually resigned – prompting a Birmingham Employment Tribunal compensation claim for constructive unfair dismissal.

The tribunal was told Mr Brown moved to the Solihull B&Q store in 2006 and was said to be performing well at the time.

But he complained there was concern about sales targets and said a third design consultant was appointed.

Mr Brown said the situation was not improved with renovation work being carried out in different parts of the store at the time.

The tribunal was told that after Mr Brown concluded a successful sale and the customer was about to pay, he offered a further discount. This was said to have surprised one of Mr Brown’s bosses and later he was alerted about a “performance improvement plan” involving target sales.

He was invited to a meeting and complained he was later in a distressed condition and facing a further review about his targets.

Mr Brown said he eventually resigned after complaining: ”I was being undermined and set up to fail.”

He added:”I had always been polite and loyal to B&Q and a hard worker. I got another job with Curry’s and customers there were surprised I had left B&Q.”

Mr Brown denied he had sought compensation for constructive unfair dismissal against B&Q for financial retribution.

The respondents successfully opposed Mr Brown’s compensation claim after questioning Mr Brown’s performance about his sales targets.
B&Q also sent Mr Brown a letter telling him he had acted hastily in resigning.

Tribunal judge Mr David Kearsley praised Mr Brown for the way he had applied his evidence but said he had found in the respondents’ favour and rejected his claim.

Mr Kearsley said, however, that the meeting Mr Brown had been invited to had been initially mishandled but that the organiser had apologised for the error.