Reporter quits over disciplinary threat after taking terminally ill grandma to hospital

A weekly newspaper reporter has resigned after his former boss threatened him with disciplinary action for takingtime off to take his ill grandmother to hospital.

John Toner, a journalist for the North London branch of Newsquest, has published his resignation letter on Twitter. In ithe alleges his employers acted with an “inhuman and caring approach” toward his situation.

Newsquest has since denied the claims, reproaching Toner for painting a “clear misrepresentation” of the issue and the facts surrounding it.

The situation came to a head when Toner was told by his newsroom Group Editor, Tim Jones, that he was required to work the following Monday and would have to find alternative arrangements for his Grandmother.