A former British Airways air hostess won her cause for discrimination after being dismissed due to her fear of flying.
Jennifer Clifford began to develop symptoms of stress and depression in September 2021-at the height of the COVVI-19 pandemic-while she already accumulated 40 years of experience in the United Kingdom airline, according to what the media reports Independent.
His disorder subsequently led to a work stoppage which extended over almost a year.
She was temporarily transferred to a floor post, but was dismissed after being still unable to resume her post at the end of 2022.me Clifford said that his condition had been minimized by the company, those responsible for it as having “just a little anxiety”.
Gradual return
In September 2022, Mme Clifford began a gradual return to a floor post, as she wanted. However, this position was in Heathrow, rather than in Gatwick, who was nevertheless closer to her house. She worked first two days a week, but when she asked her to go to three days, she felt overwhelmed by the environment and the long daily journey.
Unable to resume her flight functions, she finally left the company in December 2022, a few months before the official end of her contract.
She filed a complaint for discrimination linked to her handicap, believing that British Airways had not adapted her position or proposed other reasonable solutions before dismissing her.
The court finally agreed to Mr.me Clifford, believing that the company should have allowed it a better suitable gradual return and consider redeployment.
His complaint for sex discrimination was however rejected, but the judgment underlined his long career without fault and the lack of support of his employer in the face of his state of mental health.
