Say what you mean: What a company policy states at face value is not easy to interpret differently – even if that was the intention, the EAT confirmed.
Cooke was made redundant. During his employment he had received a monthly car allowance. The Personnel Policy Manual stated: ‘An employee opting to take a car allowance will receive the same level of allowance for a period of 48 months from the date the allowance is first taken’. Cooke argued that he should be entitled to the allowance until the 48 months had expired.
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The tribunal concluded the manual was clear, and he should receive the car allowance for 48 months. The company appealed, unsuccessfully.
