Friday 30 September 2022 10:29 AM Worker, 66, wins discrimination case after boss told him he'd been around 'as ... trends now
A long-serving insurance worker has won an age discrimination case after his boss claimed he has been around 'as long as Pontius Pilate'.
Managing Director Shirley Bellamy made the remark to David Finch as they were negotiating a settlement deal for him to leave her firm, an employment tribunal heard.
The 66 year old - who had worked in the industry 'a great many years' - found the comparison to the ancient Roman governor of Israel who ordered the crucifixion of Jesus Christ more than 2,000 years ago 'humiliating and offensive'.
Mrs Bellamy also asked him if he was going to have an afternoon nap due to him falling asleep at work because of multiple health conditions and suggested the heart attack survivor move his holiday forward as the Covid pandemic might prove fatal for him.
Mr Finch is now in line for compensation after winning age and disability discrimination claims against firm Clegg Gifford & Co.
The East London hearing was told the insurance veteran had been working since 2017 as a credit controller for the company at its office in Romford, Essex since it had taken over his previous employer.
Veteran insurance worker David Finch has won an age discrimination claim against his employer Clegg gifford & Co after his boss joked that he would not survive the pandemic
The tribunal heard he was 'obviously very good' at his job but suffered from diabetes and anaemia, medication for which made him drowsy.
The hearing was told that because of this Mr Finch sometimes fell asleep in the office leading Mrs Bellamy in early 2020 to repeatedly ask him within earshot of others 'are you planning on a nap this afternoon?'
Mr Finch found the remark 'humiliating and degrading', the tribunal was told.
In March of that year, Mr Finch was meant to be shielding due to Covid. In a conversation about sick leave, Mrs Bellamy suggested Mr Finch bring forward a planned holiday.
The tribunal heard that she told him: 'You should take the vacation now. Otherwise, you may not be around in September or October.'
Mr Finch believed that Mrs Bellamy meant he might be dead by then.
He emailed her: 'To have such a hurtful comment said...has only added to the stress and anxiety and uncertainty about the current
