Unfair dismissal claim lodged by woman claiming cancer discrimination

Posted 25/11/2010

A woman has lodged a claim for unfair dismissal against her former employers amid claims that she was sacked because she had breast cancer.

Helen Duncan, 58, was diagnosed with the disease in April 2010 and told her employers at Monitor Systems Scotland shortly afterwards, the Press and Journal reports.

However, she claims that the firm’s attitude towards her immediately changed and she was refused to be paid for days off when she needed to go for hospital appointments.

Managers also accused Ms Duncan of alienating her colleagues before letting her go just a few months later.

“Cancer patients need to be treated with kindness, consideration and compassion – just simple humanity. They have showed me none of that,” said Ms Duncan.

She is now taking her case to an employment law tribunal.

Monitor Systems said it was “disappointed” to hear about the legal action but declined to comment further.

Last month, Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support found that a large proportion of employers all over the UK are unaware of their legal responsibilities to staff diagnosed with cancer, which is covered under the newly-implemented Equality Act 2010.