By Basant El-Faramawy
A charity in Wirral, Merseyside, has been ordered to pay a former employee £2,160.81 after an employment tribunal found she was unfairly dismissed following a confrontation with the chief executive.
Background
Julie Mayes began working as a community support worker at The Carrbridge Centre on 4 January 2022. Her role involved helping vulnerable families, children and the elderly with community support, emergency food and referrals to other services.
Allegations against the CEO
The tribunal heard that CEO Matthew Gibbs regularly shouted, swore and threw boxes at work. Mayes testified that Gibbs used inappropriate sexualised language and on one occasion jumped on a table, gyrating and thrusting his hips in front of members of the public. She said this behaviour “became the norm” over a six-to-eight-month period.
Confrontation and dismissal
On 21 August 2024, Mayes tried to intervene when Gibbs swore at volunteers. He screamed “I am the CEO” in her face, leaving her “in a state.” After trustees received an anonymous claim that Mayes had criticised Gibbs at a community meeting, they dismissed her for gross misconduct on 30 September 2024 without a proper investigation.
Tribunal ruling
Employment Judge Alan Johnson ruled that the charity failed to properly consider evidence and relied too heavily on an anonymous witness. The tribunal concluded the dismissal was unfair, though a claim of dismissal arising from a protected disclosure was not upheld.
Compensation awarded
Mayes was awarded £2,160.81 for unfair dismissal.
