Tribunals back workers over sickness sackings

Employers who sack workers for sickness absence have been found guilty of unfair dismissal in two employment tribunal decisions last month.

One tribunal found that British Nuclear Group Ltd "fell well short of the standards of a reasonable employer" when it dismissed worker Duncan McLean. McLean's allegations of disability discrimination and breach of contract were also upheld.

And another tribunal ruled that Smiths Aerospace breached the Disability Discrimination Act by sacking diabetic and prostate cancer sufferer Alan Dicks.