Youth development officer wins unfair dismissal case against High Life Highland
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AN award winning youth worker has won her unfair and constructive dismissal case against High Life Highland (HLH) at an Employment Tribunal hearing in which she accused her former employer of waging a campaign of “bullying and intimidation” against her.
Janette Douglas (58) of Alness, had been working and volunteering with young people in Alness for about 30 years, 19 years of which she was a youth development officer (YDO) for Highland Council and then its offshoot charity concern, High Life Highland. (HLH)
She resigned her post as a YDO with HLH in 2019 after telling her boss she could no longer handle the “victimisation and disability discrimination”.
During the tribunal, Mrs Douglas also accused Highland councillor Carolyn Wilson of having a vendetta against her. It was heard they had been friends until a "personal matter" caused a rift in the relationship.
She said: “High Life Highland destroyed my life. I know it sounds dramatic but that’s the truth. The bullying and discrimination came from the top downwards.”
After hearing evidence spread over five days, the tribunal found Mrs Douglas’s evidence was “credible and reliable” and agreed that she had been unfairly and constructively dismissed.
She also won her claims for disability discrimination against HLH. She suffers from fibromyalgia, a condition which has caused her pain, anxiety, depression, eyesight problems and difficulty sleeping.
A hearing on compensation is being arranged.
HLH is owned by Highland Council and promotes and manages its culture, learning, sport and leisure. It said this week that the case was an "isolated incident" involving a "unique set of circumstances."
The tribunal heard that the dispute arose after the charity’s Douglas Wilby wrote to Mrs Douglas to warn her about potential conflicts of interest between her job and long-standing volunteer work she had been doing in Alness.
She had volunteered with The Place in Alness, a charity for children, for more than 30 years.
Shortly after the letter from Mr Wilby was sent, Mrs Douglas was summoned at breakfast time to a meeting two hours later in Dingwall 15 miles away, where HLH bosses told her she was being moved to a new job in Dingwall to make the most of her fundraising abilities.
She was stunned and upset, and told the tribunal there had been no prior intimation or discussion with her about the move which she saw as a "fait accompli."
HLH’s James Martin told the tribunal this was a “proposal” but Mrs Douglas said she’d been given no choice in the matter, and her version of events was accepted.
Tribunal chairman, employment judge Nick Hosie found that “undue haste” of her redeployment showed an “overwhelming and blinkered desire to placate councillor Wilson” by trying to move her to another role and town.
He added: “It was clear that pressure was being applied by Councillor Wilson to the respondent,(HLH) at senior management level, to remove Mrs Douglas from her post in Alness.”
Evidence from former colleagues of Mrs Douglas described her as a “skilled” and “highly-regarded” employee with great knowledge and experience. The Highland Heroes awards ceremony declared her Public Servant of the Year” in 2018.
Mrs Douglas said: “There are times I have been so depressed that I haven’t wanted to leave the house. I have seriously considered committing suicide just to make the nightmare end.
“I am still very unwell and nothing can ever give me back those years.
“But winning the tribunal has at least meant some sort of justice and is recognition that the way they treated me was truly appalling.”
A spokeswoman for HLH said: “This case was an isolated incident that presented a unique set of circumstances. As a charity, High Life Highland is deeply committed to equalities and social inclusion in all aspects of its work, this includes our commitment ensure a safe, fair and supportive environment for our customers, staff, volunteers and their representatives.”
“High Life Highland is deeply committed to equalities and social inclusion in all aspects of its work.
“This includes our commitment ensure a safe, fair and supportive environment for our customers, staff, volunteers and their representatives.”
