A woman with asthma has been awarded £17,000 in compensation because
colleagues refused to stop smoking in front of her.
Karen Whitehead, 34, an administrator at a Plymouth community centre,
claimed the heavy smoking by her colleagues triggered her asthma and kept her
off work.
Although she had only been employed at the Granby Island Community Centre
for 45 days, an employment tribunal ruled she had been unfairly dismissed. She
was registered disabled, so she was entitled to sue after being sacked for
taking 16 days off sick.
The tribunal heard how during an appraisal, she told her boss about the
smoky environment, only to have him light up twice in front of her. The centre
is to appeal the ruling.
