Woman's unfair sacking by husband
Thursday, 27th February 2003.
A MARKETING manager said she felt "humiliated" after her husband – the general manager at the same Haverhill business – was ordered to escort her from the premises after signing a letter putting her out of a job, an employment tribunal heard.
Julie Muir had alleged that printing company Label Converters, based in Falconer Way, Haverhill, had discriminated against her because of her relationship to Andrew Muir.
The tribunal in Bury St Edmunds upheld Mrs Muir's claim that she was unfairly dismissed, citing a lack of consultation by the company, but threw out a second claim of sexual discrimination.
Attacking her treatment on the day she left the company, Mrs Muir, 31, said: "I felt that this was grossly unjust and humiliating to have your own husband instructed to escort me off the premises."
Managers from Label Converters said that the loss of two contracts had forced them to make nine workers redundant.
Commercial director Sean Don strongly denied that Mrs Muir had been subjected to any discrimination or unfair dismissal.
He said that the relationship between Julie and Andrew Muir had not entered into the decision to make her redundant.
But Mrs Muir, who lives at Cross Close, Haverhill, said: "I firmly believe that due to my relationship with general manager Andrew Muir I was treated differently."
Mr Muir, 39, said that his objections to Julie Muir, who he regarded as a valuable member of the team, being made redundant had been outvoted by his management colleagues.
That left him, as general manager, having to write the letter telling his wife that she was losing her job.
Mr Muir said he was disgusted with the way that Julie was treated "as an employee and as a human being".
Mrs Muir is to receive a £2,500 settlement following talks between the two sides at the conclusion of the hearing.
Julie Muir had alleged that printing company Label Converters, based in Falconer Way, Haverhill, had discriminated against her because of her relationship to Andrew Muir.
The tribunal in Bury St Edmunds upheld Mrs Muir's claim that she was unfairly dismissed, citing a lack of consultation by the company, but threw out a second claim of sexual discrimination.
Attacking her treatment on the day she left the company, Mrs Muir, 31, said: "I felt that this was grossly unjust and humiliating to have your own husband instructed to escort me off the premises."
Managers from Label Converters said that the loss of two contracts had forced them to make nine workers redundant.
Commercial director Sean Don strongly denied that Mrs Muir had been subjected to any discrimination or unfair dismissal.
He said that the relationship between Julie and Andrew Muir had not entered into the decision to make her redundant.
But Mrs Muir, who lives at Cross Close, Haverhill, said: "I firmly believe that due to my relationship with general manager Andrew Muir I was treated differently."
Mr Muir, 39, said that his objections to Julie Muir, who he regarded as a valuable member of the team, being made redundant had been outvoted by his management colleagues.
That left him, as general manager, having to write the letter telling his wife that she was losing her job.
Mr Muir said he was disgusted with the way that Julie was treated "as an employee and as a human being".
Mrs Muir is to receive a £2,500 settlement following talks between the two sides at the conclusion of the hearing.
Comment on this story
[board listing] [login] [register]
You must be logged in to post messages. (login now)