In Mr R P v Amazon UK Services Limited an Amazon worker with “debilitating” anxiety and bipolar disorder was put at a “substantial disadvantage” by being asked to attend morning meetings with occupational health, an Edinburgh tribunal has ruled.
Mr RP had been working at Amazon UK as a capacity planner from July 2021. In October 2022, his manager began raising concerns about his performance.
By the following March his manager had not seen sufficient improvement and informed Mr RP that, as per company policy, he could either take a settlement offer and leave Amazon’s employment or be moved on to a formal performance improvement plan. He had by 17 March to respond; however, he went off sick because of anxiety from 13 March 2023.
Thereafter, he lodged a formal grievance and remained off work. After being put in touch with occupational health, a meeting was scheduled for 7 June, and Mr RP requested it take place in the afternoon as “his medication was impacting him in the morning”; however, this request was not passed on and the meeting took place at 8.45am. In the end, Mr RP left his role on 6 July.
Employment judge Sangster found that Mr RP was “placed at a substantial disadvantage” by having to attend occupational health meetings at stipulated times.
The court ruled: “The respondent was aware that the claimant was a disabled person at that time and that he would be placed at that substantial disadvantage in comparison to those who do not have the same disability and whether the respondent was aware that the claimant was likely to be placed at this disadvantage.”
Amazon was ordered to pay Mr RP £1,596.99, including interest, by way of compensation for injury to feelings.
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