'Discretionary' | MoD worker loses harassment tribunal after colleagues didn't give him leaving card

A Ministry of Defense employee has lost a tribunal in which he sued his employer for harassment, after his colleagues didn’t get him a ‘good luck’ leaving card.

James Eyles, who managed the accommodation stores for the MoD at a NATO facility in Mons, Belgium, was “upset” not to receive a card.

Eyles claimed that the snub was due to ongoing harassment over his disabilities, including anxiety, depression, paranoia, and PTSD.

An employment judge, however, said there was no evidence to support his claims and that sending a leaving card to departing staff is a “discretionary” act from employers – i.e., there is no legal requirement for a good luck card to be sent.