STORY
An employment tribunal has found that refusing home working arrangements to an employee with agoraphobia can amount to disability discrimination, in a ruling with implications for councils. The case involved Marina Dudding, a former Gravesham Borough Council employee who asked to work two days a week from home because of agoraphobia, anxiety and depression.
Dudding brought legal action against the council after she was dismissed following sickness absence and disciplinary action. The London South Employment Tribunal upheld claims of disability discrimination and unfair dismissal, finding that her conditions substantially affected daily activities and that the council had failed in its obligations.
A Gravesham Borough Council spokesman said the authority accepted the tribunal’s findings, while saying there were nuances to the case which were not reflected in the ruling. The council said isolated cases could occur in an organisation of its size where working relationships broke down or performance concerns needed to be addressed.