Home / Crime and Justice / Disabled Manager Wins £32k After Refusing Unpaid Overtime
Disabled Manager Wins £32k After Refusing Unpaid Overtime
26 Feb
Summary
- A disabled supermarket manager won £32,320 in compensation.
- He refused to work unpaid overtime due to his spinal arthritis.
- A tribunal found Sainsbury's liable for disability discrimination.
Ricky Taylor, a former Sainsbury's manager with spinal arthritis, has successfully claimed £32,320 in compensation. He faced pressure to work an additional 10 hours weekly beyond his contracted shifts for handover duties. This requirement exacerbated his condition, which causes pain, stiffness, and extreme fatigue, making walking difficult.
Mr. Taylor, who joined Sainsbury's in 2020, had requested specific work adjustments, including a four-night work week. He lodged a complaint with human resources regarding the expectation of unpaid overtime, emphasizing that it increased his pain and fatigue.
A tribunal in Watford determined that Sainsbury's failed to implement reasonable adjustments for Mr. Taylor's disability. This failure constituted disability discrimination and led to his constructive unfair dismissal. He resigned in July 2023, citing that his concerns were not fairly addressed.
The tribunal found that altering his shift start and end times by 30 minutes would have been a reasonable adjustment, allowing for handovers within contracted hours. Sainsbury's was criticized for also issuing a warning over absences related to his disability.
