Employment tribunal | Worker battling cancer sacked for 'decreased productivity'

A UK worker has won over £30,000 in a discrimination tribunal case after her employer sacked her for low productivity despite her having breast cancer at the time.

Lucy Lydall, a former marketing manager at The Woolridge Partnership construction company, was sacked from her role for a lack of performance, which was attributed to her illness. Lydall said she found out she had stage one breast cancer two months after starting the role and had to take time off for hospital treatment and later more time off to get married.

Lydall said she found out she had lost her job after returning from this leave. After receiving the news she had been sacked, Lydall said she was “completely shocked” and decided to sue the company for disability discrimination.

Reportedly, Lydall’s employer didn’t speak to her about improving her work as managers didn’t want to add to her stress, instead she was given ‘positive reinforcement’ to incentivise her. “At no time did anyone talk to me about my performance. In fact, all I received was positive reinforcement,” said Lydall at the tribunal.