Claimant v All Metal Roofing Limited
Outcome
Individual claims
The tribunal found the claimant resigned due to his own poor mental health, a continued lack of trust, and his perception of a change in behaviour towards him by Mr Shenahan. The tribunal did not consider the claimant's view was reasonable or accurate. The resignation letter did not refer to any of the alleged breaches and did not give a reason at all. There was no fundamental breach of the implied term of trust and confidence.
The tribunal was satisfied that the claimant was not dismissed but resigned. The resignation was not in response to any fundamental breach of contract by the respondent. The claimant's resignation was due to his own mental health issues, lack of trust, and perception rather than any conduct by the employer.
The tribunal found the claimant was not dismissed but resigned. The tribunal dismissed all allegations of less favourable treatment related to disability. The respondent's actions were not because of the claimant's disability. The tribunal found no evidence that the share issues, exclusions from meetings, or performance management were related to the claimant's disability.
The tribunal found the claimant had not proved that there was a PCP of Mr Shenahan not being open in his communication with any staff. The tribunal could see no evidence that this placed the claimant at a disadvantage due to his disability. The PCP was not made out and the allegation was dismissed.
Facts
The claimant was Contracts Director from March 2016 after starting as Contracts Manager in 2014. He purchased 10% shares in the holding company in July 2017, funded by a director's loan to be repaid via dividends. He suffered from depression from January 2019 and anxiety about share arrangements and potential further share purchases. Negotiations for a second 10% share purchase began in 2020 but were delayed by Covid and never completed. The claimant resigned on 1 March 2023, claiming he had been misled about shares and excluded from meetings, but the tribunal found his perceptions were affected by his mental health.
Decision
The tribunal dismissed all claims. The tribunal found the claimant had received the first 10% shares in 2017 and dividends thereafter, contrary to his belief. Negotiations for further shares were delayed by Covid and the claimant's personal circumstances, not bad faith. The tribunal found no fundamental breach of contract and that the claimant resigned due to his own poor mental health and misunderstanding of the situation, not the respondent's conduct. No discrimination or failure to make reasonable adjustments was established.
Practical note
A claimant's subjective perception of being misled or excluded, particularly when affected by mental health issues, is insufficient to establish constructive dismissal or discrimination without objective evidence of fundamental breach or less favourable treatment.
Legal authorities cited
Statutes
Case details
- Case number
- 3309492/2023
- Decision date
- 3 November 2025
- Hearing type
- full merits
- Hearing days
- 4
- Classification
- contested
Respondent
- Sector
- construction
- Represented
- Yes
- Rep type
- barrister
Employment details
- Role
- Contracts Director
- Service
- 9 years
Claimant representation
- Represented
- No