Coach firm in administration owes former employee £30,000 following tribunal (From Redditch Advertiser)

Coach firm in administration owes former employee £30,000 following tribunal

3:10pm Sunday 5th February 2012 in Local

A REDDITCH coach firm that is in administration faces paying a former employee nearly £30,000 compensation after the boss was accused by a judge of “appearing to take exception to women working part-time or flexible hours”.

The criticism was levelled by Birmingham Employment Tribunal judge Mary Cocks against Roger Dyson, boss of Tanners Croft Garage Ltd, trading as Hardings International of Redditch.

Mr Dyson and his firm failed to attend the hearing as the firm’s former book-keeper, Lynn Drew, of Napton Close, Matchborough, made compensation claims for sex discrimination and constructive unfair dismissal.

Miss Drew said she had been unfairly dismissed and discriminated against as a woman employee because she could only work a limited number of hours each week because of family commitments.

The tribunal was told Mr Dyson wanted a full-time book-keeper and took exception to her short working week following a managerial change over.

It was alleged Mr Dyson implied she was not doing her job properly. She complained she was victimised and said the situation caused her so much worry and headaches that she became ill. She eventually resigned.

The judge said Mr Dyson appeared to take exception to women working part-time or flexible hours: “He obviously found it a disadvantage to the firm that Miss Drew could not work the hours he wanted her to and there was a heavy handed attitude.”

Miss Cocks added: “There was a breakdown in confidence between Mr Dyson and Miss Drew but women with families to look after can only work flexible hours or shorter days.”

She said she was awarding Miss Drew a total of £29,355, which included £6,000 for injury to her feelings.

“As the firm is in adminstration I hope you get your money,” Miss Cocks told Miss Drew.

Miss Drew said after the hearing she was now running her own book-keeping business from her home.