An employment tribunal has ordered Hastings and Rother Voluntary Association for the Blind to pay almost £25,000, after it ruled that it had unfairly dismissed an employee.
The Sussex-based charity, which supports people who are visually impaired, was found to have unfairly and wrongfully dismissed former care home manager Tracy Britcher.
As a result, it was ordered to pay her £3,264 as a basic award and £21,433.76 as a compensatory award, which was uplifted from £18,638.05 for the unfair dismissal claim, but no additional sum was to be paid in respect of the wrongful dismissal claim.
Hastings and Rother Voluntary Association for the Blind was found to have unreasonably failed to comply with the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) code of practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures.
Employment Judge Kumar said: “The respondent’s application to strike out for want of jurisdiction is not well-founded and fails. The claimant’s claim for unfair dismissal is well-founded and succeeds. The claimant’s claim for wrongful dismissal is well-founded and succeeds. The respondent unreasonably failed to comply with the Acas code of practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures and consequently the compensatory award includes an uplift of 15%.”
A spokesperson for Martin Searle Solicitors, which represented Britcher, said: “The employment judge agreed that both of her claims were well-founded and Britcher was fully compensated for her financial losses that stemmed from her unfair dismissal. Whatever their size and sophistication, employers need to be aware of this framework which operates as a guide as well as a sanction.”
Hastings and Rother Voluntary Association for the Blind was contacted for comment prior to publication.