Cases3309492/2023

Claimant v All Metal Roofing Limited

3 November 2025Before Employment Judge L CowenWatfordin person

Outcome

Claimant fails

Individual claims

Constructive Dismissalfailed

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.

Unfair Dismissalfailed

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.

Direct Discrimination(disability)failed

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.

Failure to Make Reasonable Adjustments(disability)failed

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

Western Excavating v Sharp [1978] ICR 221Morrow v Safeway Stores 2002 IRLR 9Ahmed v Amnesty International 2009 ICR 1450Kaur v Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 2018 EWCA Civ 978Omilaju v Waltham Forest LBC [2005] ICRNottinghamshire County Council v Meikle [2004] EWCA Civ 859SCA Packaging Ltd v Boyle 2009 UKHL 37Anya v University of Oxford [2001] ICR 847London Borough of Islington v Ladele [2009] ICR 387Gould v St John's Downshire Hill 2021 ICR 1Laing v Manchester City Council [2006] IRLR 748Ishola v Transport for London [2020] EWCA Civ 112Archibald v Fife Council [2004] ICR 954Secretary of State for Work & Pensions (Job Centre Plus) v Higgins [2014] ICR 341Adedeji v University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust [2021] EWCA Civ 23

Statutes

EqA 2010 s.140BEqA 2010 s.212(1)EqA 2010 Sch 1ERA 1996 s.95(1)(c)ERA 1996 s.111EqA 2010 s.6EqA 2010 s.13EqA 2010 s.20EqA 2010 s.21EqA 2010 s.23

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