Admin worker successfully sues male boss for menopause discrimination after he ... trends now
An admin worker whose male boss ignored her complaints that she was suffering from 'Old Lady Disease' has successfully sued him for menopause discrimination.
Marie Johnson asked to work a four day week saying the condition had a 'profound' impact on her 'day to day activities' and likening it to feeling as if she had 'a goldfish bowl on her head'.
But boss Martin Jones turned down the request after after failing to ask her how the menopause was affecting her as he 'thought he wouldn't understand it', an employment tribunal was told.
This led to Mrs Johnson resigning after 27 years at the 'predominantly male' crane rental business she worked at.
Marie Johnson has successfully sued her male boss at crane company Bronzeshield Lifting (pictured) for menopause discrimination
Representing herself at the tribunal, she then successfully sued her bosses for disability discrimination and unfair dismissal with a judge criticising Mr Jones's lack of interest in the menopause.
The hearing in Croydon, south London was told Ms Johnson joined Bronzeshield Lifting in Dartford, Kent, in 1995.
The administrator first became menopausal in early 2018 and her symptoms included a low mood and volatile emotions, anxiety and low self-esteem, and fatigue.
Ms Johnson told the panel she suffered from 'brain fog' which she likened to having 'a goldfish bowl on her head' and her menopause affected her resilience and 'ability to cope with the stresses and strains of daily life and work'.
At the time, the mother of two grown up children was also going through 'some challenging things' - including caring for her elderly parents and uncle.
In August 2021, Ms Johnson approached her bosses and asked them to reduce her working days so she was no longer working Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm.
Ms Johnson asked to amend her working hours and reduce them to a four day week in order for her to attend a course on Wednesdays.
The administrator said: 'With both my children now grown up, I am no longer restricted to times, but at the same time with the above in mind, I am at a point in my life (coping with the Old Lady Disease) that I need to reconsider my future.'
Her request was approved and from September 2021 to July 2022 Ms Johnson did not go to work on a Wednesday.
Then, the administrator asked to alter her working hours again, this time taking Friday off and working a half day on Thursday.
Ms Johnson said this was due to 'change in my circumstances' in relation to 'my elderly parents and my menopause issues'.
She told her bosses: 'I do not feel that I can return to work for the five days as a I used to.'
The tribunal highlighted that the businesses office was near to the Dartford tunnel and
