Fireman awarded £80,000 over health and safety email

A Greater Manchester firefighter has been awarded £80,000 in compensation after he was sacked for asking colleagues about the health and safety of new office chairs.

Christopher Bennett suffers from arthritis of the spine. When Greater Manchester fire stations decided to remove employee beds and replace them with reclining chairs, Mr Bennett argued that his condition worsened as a result.

He told his employers and requested allowance for his own mattress to be brought to work for medical reasons, but was swiftly denied.

After asking his fellow colleagues whether they too suffered at the hands of the £400 chairs, Mr Bennett was dismissed for gross misconduct and lost his subsequent appeal against the decision.

But Stockport Employment Tribunal has found in favour of the 46-year-old, ruling that he was the victim of unfair dismissal.

An out-of-court settlement for £80,000 has been reached by Greater Manchester fire stations after the court found that Mr Bennett’s right to freedom of expression has been breached under the Human Rights Act.

While Mr Bennett and his colleagues have welcomed the tribunal’s decision, his management have not be so understanding, stating: “We are extremely disappointed in the outcome of this case. We demand the highest standards of behaviour from our entire staff.

“Mr Bennett's actions fell far below those standards when he ignored the email policy and advice from both his line manager and his union representative.”

If your employer has failed to make the necessary health and safety arrangements your medical conditions, or you’ve been released for reasons that you feel are unfair, employment law solicitors are here to make sure your treatment get the compensation it deserves.