Bus company ordered to pay unfair dismissal compensation at employment law tribunal

Posted 31/12/2010

A bus company has been ordered to pay a former employee compensation after an employment law tribunal ruled that he was unfairly dismissed from his position.

Paul Smith, who was based at Stagecoach’s Montrose depot in Scotland, had worked for the company since 1995, but began to suffer back pain in 2008, the Tayside and Fife Courier reports.

He took some time off and returned shortly afterwards. In May 2009, he was forced to take another two weeks off work and produced a doctor’s note, but was also involved in a traffic accident and had to have further sick leave.

Stagecoach offered Mr Smith a job as a conductor, but the employee said he would rather continue to work as a driver once his back was better.

The company consequently sacked him for having a “bad attitude”.

After Mr Smith took legal action, an employment law tribunal found Stagecoach guilty of discriminating against a disabled driver and ordered it to pay £7,989 in compensation.

Last month, Lord Young said on BBC Radio 4 that the coalition is considering extending the claims period for unfair dismissal cases back to two years.