Councillor must pay ex-employee
A BRECKLAND councillor has been ordered to pay a former employee £855 after a tribunal.
Mark Robinson, who represents Thetford’s Saxon Ward, was taken to tribunal by Rebecca Curtis, 20, a cleaner for Dusty SpringClean Ltd.
Miss Curtis claimed that a two-month delay in holding a ‘back to work’ meeting following illness had cost her hundreds of pounds and ‘ruined’ her Christmas.
She alleged that despite contacting Mr Robinson numerous times to arrange the meeting – including a week of sending two emails a day – she was never able to confirm a time.
“I was getting really stressed and it meant I had no money for presents at Christmas and had to cancel my phone contract.
“I’ve had panic attacks since this all started and I’m just relieved to be getting the money,” she said.
The complaint was made after Miss Curtis suffered a cut to her head while studying at West Suffolk College on Friday September 30.
After receiving stitches to the wound in hospital, Miss Curtis informed Mr Robinson that she would not be able to attend work that evening.
On Monday, October 3, she was told she would have to attend a back to work meeting, according to Miss Curtis.
However, she says she was unable to make contact with Mr Robinson, despite having obtained a doctor’s note describing her injuries.
According to Miss Curtis, she pursued Mr Robinson for two months before taking the matter to a tribunal.
After visiting the Citizens’ Advice Bureau for help, Miss Curtis raised an official grievance with Mr Robinson, which was sent on November 8 and received by recorded delivery.
Miss Curtis made the official complaint to the tribunal service on December 4.
When the company failed to respond to the allegation in the required 28 day time period, Miss Curtis’ complaint succeeded. A hearing scheduled for February 7 was then cancelled.
Mr Robinson now has until March 13 to pay Miss Curtis.
He told the Bury Free Press he will appeal against the decision.
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Weather for Bury St Edmunds
Friday 25 May 2012
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