WALTHAM FOREST: Depressed worker unfairly dismissed by council (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

WALTHAM FOREST: Depressed worker unfairly dismissed by council

10:24am Wednesday 16th April 2008 in

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A CLINICALLY depressed woman was unfairly dismissed from her job with Waltham Forest Council, a tribunal has found.

The ruling states the authority failed to adhere to the Disability Discrimination Act and take Sandra Samuel's condition into account.

The 49-year-old, who had worked for the council since 1990, was diagnosed after the birth of her twins.

She was sacked while suffering a severe bout of depression following a disciplinary incident, but reinstated after the authority admitted that it had not considered her condition.

The council eventually offered her a new job but the role did not enable her to work part-time and she resigned, claiming constructive dismissal.

The Stratford employment tribunal said the authority's head of human resources for adult and community services, Louise Frayn, had an "unsympathetic attitude which bordered on hostility" and did not give "any consideration to the possible effects on (Ms Samuel's) ability to carry out the job effectively."