The Employment Appeal Tribunal has held that an employer's false explanation given for the withdrawal of a flexible working arrangement in evidence during a tribunal hearing reversed the burden of proof in a direct sex discrimination claim.
James Buckle, Gerri Hurst, Joelle Parkinson, Chris McAvoy and Helen Samuel are associate solicitors at Addleshaw Goddard LLP. They round up the latest rulings.
In a decision that may appear harsh, the employment tribunal penalised the employer almost £3,000 for failing to follow the statutory right to request flexible working procedure to the letter, even though the managing director may have been distracted because he was dealing with possible redundancies at the same time.