Tribunal rules against council on race and unfair dismissal

Doncaster Council racially victimised and unfairly dismissed a black equal opportunities assistant, an employment tribunal has ruled.

Richard Smith, who resigned after being refused checks by the council’s own occupational health team, claimed he was being treated differently because of his race and after a previously-settled discrimination claim.

The employment tribunal ruled in his favour against the council, which has apologised and described the incident as unfortunate.

The council’s managing director Susan Law said: “Doncaster council unreservedly apologises to Mr Smith for the events that lead to this tribunal judgment. This has been a unique and very individual set of circumstances that is unlikely to arise again and where we had tried our utmost to put the situation right.

“Despite our continuing efforts to improve the working environment and our previous apologies to Mr Smith, it is apparent Mr Smith experienced a fundamental breakdown in trust. It is unfortunate that it had to progress to a tribunal for resolution.”

The amount of compensation will be decided at a future hearing.