December 03, 2010
A council official has launched a £330,000 damages bid at the High Court.
Senior Town Planner, Richard Dermott, says his career was destroyed after he glared at a disruptive junior colleague and was subsequently disciplined.
Mr Dermott worked for Harrow Council for 20 years before depression, as a result of his employer’s disciplinary proceedings, put an end to his career two years ago.
The sixty-one-year-old presumed his stern looks towards the co-worker would be sufficient in getting her to change her behaviour. However, Mr Dermott was told to “get a life” by the young woman. The worker involved then lodged a complaint that Mr Dermott had subjected her to serious harassment and constant staring which she claimed was of a sexual nature.
He was put before a disciplinary panel, which found him guilty of gross misconduct and was given a final warning. Two weeks later Mr Dermott fell ill with depression which he attributes to his treatment at the hands of his former employers.
At the hearing Mr Dermott said it was a “complete surprise” when he was told he would face a disciplinary hearing.
He said: “I couldn't really take seriously the suggestion that a manager in an office could not be allowed to speak to a more junior member of staff who was behaving in a disruptive manner. I can't seriously believe that anybody would suggest what I did was inappropriate,” he said.
His solicitor told the court that the disciplinary process Mr Dermott endured was defective and left him feeling that bosses were “out to get him.”
The barrister said Mr Dermott was entitled to compensation for his ordeal and that the council had a duty “not to act in a manner likely to destroy or damage the relationship of trust and confidence that Mr Dermott was reasonably entitled to have with his employer.”
The High Court hearing, expected to last several days, continues.
