Employment law tribunal to take place over ‘unfair dismissal’

Posted 24/05/2010

A woman is taking her former employer to an employment law tribunal amid claims of unfair dismissal.

Deidre Clark, 44, was sacked from city company Allen & Overy in December 2008 after she published an erotic novel on the internet.

Although she claimed she had the right to publish fictional material as long as it did not mention her employer or colleagues, she was removed from her position for bringing the firm into disrepute.

However, Ms Clark alleges that the real reason for her dismissal was that her boss – 60-year-old Tony Humphrey – was obsessed with her.

She remarked: “When I rebuffed his advances … it infuriated him … and that is why I was dismissed.”

The former executive said she will face the company at a tribunal, while Allen & Overy said it intends to defend itself “vigorously”.

Any worker who is fired without a fair reason, or who is dismissed outside of regular procedures may have a case for unfair dismissal, according to DirectGov.