A
former manager of a charity for blind children is to be awarded compensation
after blowing the whistle on alleged staff bullying.
The
Royal London Society for the Blind (RLSB), located in Kent, conceded legal liability
on all six claims brought by Tebiena Martin at an employment tribunal in
Ashford. They included unfair dismissal and whistle-blowing, but it denied
there had been any bullying or harassment. It is the second such case the
charity has faced within a year.
Martin
worked at the RLSB for seven years, but alleged that in the latter part of her
time there, she and a number of other staff were bullied by a senior officer.
She is the second member of staff to have voiced concerns about the running of
the charity.
Last
year, a former personnel manager won his case of unfair dismissal, while 18
months ago, a trustee resigned, citing failings in an inquiry into bullying.
The
chairman of the charity’s college also resigned after concerns over
"elements of fear and intimidation".
However,
the RLSB says it conceded liability because it did not want to spend any more
public money on legal costs.
