 A Nationwide manager who lost her £75,000-a-year job when the building society decided to get rid of staff working from home has won nearly £350,000 in compensation. Jayne Follows had been allowed to only come into the office two to three times a week so she could care for her elderly disabled mum, an employment tribunal heard. But bosses eventually decided to eliminate 'homeworking' contracts amid concern junior staff were not being properly supervised because their managers were not physically present. When Ms Follows declined to give up her arrangement she was made redundant. She then sued for discrimination and unfair dismissal, arguing the decision had been made 'on the back of a fag packet'. Now, following a five-year legal battle she has been awarded £345,708 in compensation. The tribunal concluded the building society's belief that homeworking needed to be eliminated was based on 'subjective impressions'. The hearing in central London was told Ms Follows joined Nationwide in 2011 and at the time of her losing her job in 2018 was employed as a Senior Lending Manager (SLM). Throughout her career at the building society she received high ratings and appraisals and was regarded by bosses as a 'top performer', the tribunal was told. Building society bosses eventually decided to eliminate 'homeworking' contracts amid concern junior staff were not being properly supervised, the panel heard (Picture: Getty) The tribunal heard that in October 2017, Nationwide decided to reduce the number of SLMs from 12 to eight and as part of this process, the decision was made to eliminate home working contracts. Commercial Director Tony Alexander said it was 'essential' managers in the business be 'accessible and visible' and that junior staff had raised concerns about a lack of physical supervision. 'We felt strongly we neede){kind=link}
NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
A Nationwide manager who lost her £75,000-a-year job when the building society decided to get rid of staff working from home has won nearly £350,000 in compensation.
Jayne Follows had been allowed to only come into the office two to three times a week so she could care for her elderly disabled mum, an employment tribunal heard.
But bosses eventually decided to eliminate ‘homeworking’ contracts amid concern junior staff were not being properly supervised because their managers were not physically present.
When Ms Follows declined to give up her arrangement she was made redundant. She then sued for discrimination and unfair dismissal, arguing the decision had been made ‘on the back of a fag packet’.