'Insult to injury' | Employer penalised after withdrawing job offer from cancer-battling candidate

A care support company unlawfully withdrew a job offer after learning that the successful candidate had breast cancer and would require time off for treatment, an employment tribunal has ruled.

The Intrinsic Care Group was ordered to pay Ms L Harber nearly £17,000 after the tribunal upheld claims of direct disability discrimination and discrimination arising from disability.

Job offer withdrawn after cancer disclosure

Harber was offered a Service Manager position following an interview in April 2023, with the offer confirmed in writing on the 1st of May.

She subsequently told the company’s HR Manager and Regional Business Performance Manager that she had been diagnosed with cancer in January and undergone surgery in March. She was receiving hormone treatment and was due to start radiotherapy, requiring time away from work for appointments.