'Inflexible' | British Airways flight attendant too stressed to fly lost job after HR failed to make adjustments

A British Airways flight attendant who said she was too stressed to return to flying has won claims of unfair dismissal and disability discrimination after a tribunal found the airline failed to make reasonable adjustments.

Miss J Clifford (the claimant) who had worked for the airline since 1983, was dismissed in March 2023 after struggling with a phased return to work following sick leave for depression and work-related stress. The tribunal found her dismissal amounted to discrimination arising from disability and unfair dismissal.

Long-serving employee on sick leave

Clifford first went off sick in September 2021 with depression and stress. According to the tribunal, it was Clifford’s “first significant period of sickness absence in her very long service with the respondent. She had not at any time previously been managed by the respondent under its sickness absence policy.” 

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Medical evidence throughout 2022 supported a gradual return on ground duties before resuming flying. Her GP, therapist and counsellor all recommended reduced hours, lighter duties and a base closer to home at Gatwick to ease her back into work.