
Lidl employee who faced age discrimination during redundancy given compensation
At the point of his dismissal, he was 63 years old, had been employed by Lidl for just under 23 years and had undertaken around 77 construction projects, the tribunal in Sheffield heard.
Mr Norman was first told of proposed redundancies during a meeting on January 30 2023 after which he discovered he was among three construction consultants up for redundancy with only one role available as part of the restructure.
The other two consultants were both in their 30s at the time.
After learning one of them had been successful in securing the job, Mr Norman met with his line manager Liam Schofield who informed him he had been 'marked down for not having 'relevant construction qualifications' in that you do not have a construction degree', the tribunal heard.
Mr Norman's argument that those in their 60s were 'less likely' to have a degree than those in their 30s was accepted by the tribunal that ruled the inclusion of having a degree or construction qualification as part of the redundancy selection criteria amounted to indirect age discrimination.
In a written ruling, employment judge Neil Maidment said Mr Norman had felt 'discredited' because he did not have a degree and 'punished' for the fact he had grown up on a Welsh council estate and had not had the opportunity to attend university.
Of Mr Norman's evidence, the judge wrote: 'He said that he had always believed that if you work hard enough, long enough and successfully enough you will be rewarded and respected for the work you do.
'Being told that he was marked down because he didn't have a degree made him feel inadequate and demeaned.
'He described growing up on a North Wales council estate in the 1960s and 1970s when there was no opportunity for someone like him to go to university.
'He felt punished for this and angry.
'His parents had done their best to provide everything for him and he had worked his way up the ladder.'
Mr Schofield's evidence was not 'wholly consistent' regarding the significance of a qualification or degree during the redundancy process, the tribunal ruled.
During his time at Lidl, Mr Norman had got on well with his colleagues with a feeling that they were 'very much part of a family', the tribunal heard.
Of the effects of the redundancy on Mr Norman, Judge Maidment said he had suffered some 'clear psychological damage', evidenced by medication taken by the claimant and counselling he had received.
'The impact on his family life had been extreme and at one point he had had suicidal ideations,' the judge added.
Had it not been for his dismissal, the claimant 'envisaged himself happily working on with the respondent until around his 67th birthday', Judge Maidment wrote.
The tribunal ruled that the 'failure to conduct a reasonable process of consultation' was sufficient enough to render the dismissal unfair and, while the respondent had set up a 'potentially fair' scoring and criteria method, the tribunal could not conclude that this was 'fairly and reasonably' applied in Mr Norman's case.
In a remedy judgment published on May 9, the tribunal ordered Lidl to pay Mr Norman £46,280.63 in compensation for unfair dismissal and a further £4,646.15 for injury of feelings because of indirect age discrimination.
The ruling noted that the amount awarded for unfair dismissal had been reduced by 50% to reflect the chance that the claimant would have been fairly dismissed in any event.
Mr Norman's complaint of direct age discrimination failed as the tribunal accepted he had been selected for redundancy based on an assessment of his 'abilities unrelated to age' and there was 'no evidence' that his 'likely longevity' in the role or age may affect his performance.
His further claim of age-related harassment, including an allegation that a colleague had referred to him as 'grandad' in the office, also failed.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Wales Online
an hour ago
- Wales Online
Cardiff Bus gives update on planned September strike
Cardiff Bus gives update on planned September strike The company warned customers of possible disruption next month There has been a long-term dispute over pay conditions at Cardiff Bus (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne) Cardiff Bus has warned customers of potential strike action next month as members of Unite the union continue to ballot for an improved pay offer. The Union said that the action would affect services for a period of three and a half weeks from Monday, September 1. Earlier this week, the company's management was informed of the action through a formal notification. The bus service is the primary bus provider for the Welsh capital and its surrounding areas like Barry and Penarth. The strike is however dependent on the result of an existing ballot which will be held by the union. Never miss a Cardiff story by signing up to our daily newsletter here The result of this will be announced on Friday, August 29 at the latest and if the revised pay offer is accepted a letter rescinding the strike action will be issued. Cardiff Bus said they were "preparing contingency plans" for if the strike was to go ahead with only a short window between the ballot result and start of the strike action. They reassured customers that as soon as a definite decision is made further details would be published on the company's website, app and social media channels. Content cannot be displayed without consent Craig Hampton-Stone, Managing Director, said: "We hope it does not come to this and that the ballot result is acceptance of the revised pay offer. "However, we have to act responsibly, both for our customers and our staff, by preparing for all scenarios. "We remain committed to resolving this dispute and have put forward a new pay deal which led to the postponement of the previous strike and commencement of the subsequent ballot. Our focus is on achieving a fair resolution that avoids unnecessary disruption. "Cardiff Bus will update customers on progress with pay talks and the outcome of the ballot as soon as further information is available. "Please check the company's website, app and social channels for the latest updates." Article continues below Strike action was previously called off earlier this month after a revised pay offer was put forward alongside proposed changes to working conditions which included longer breaks and improved sickness terms. This original industrial action was due to take place from August 17 and was due to run for three weeks, ending on Sunday, September 7.


Metro
3 hours ago
- Metro
New £1 rail ticket will let you explore 95 destinations in this European country
Thanks to a bank holiday offer, you'll be able to explore Wales for less than the price of a cup of coffee. To promote it's Pay As You Go (PAYG) system, Transport for Wales (TfW) have slashed the price of train travel to just £1 one way. Given the announcement that rail fares are set to rise in England by 5.8% next year, it's welcome to those both living in, and visiting, Wales. From August 19 to August 28, the £1 tickets are available for travel at any station where passengers tap in and out. This means that 95 stations (all of which are in the southeast) across the TfW network are taking part, including all stops on the Valleys lines, as well as routes to Bridgend, Maesteg, the Vale of Glamorgan, Abergavenny, and Chepstow. This £1 per single journey promotion is exclusively available to passengers using PAYG, and excludes all other ticket types. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. While the savings aren't massive, they'll soon add up, especially if you're commuting around the southeast. For example, a single fare from Abergavenny to Cardiff Central usually costs £4.20, so you're saving £3.20 per day, one way. If you do that journey five days a week for a month, both ways, that's a saving of £128. Alexia Course, TfW chief commercial officer said: 'Our PAYG service offers our customers the fastest, easiest and cheapest way to travel on our network, with the added flexibility of being able to tap in and tap out. 'Since launching last year, PAYG has become our fastest selling ticketing product. Through this exclusive and time-limited summer campaign, we're offering customers the ability to travel between any of our PAYG-enabled stations for just £1 per single journey.' And, for those travellers in north Wales wondering where their cheap tickets are, cabinet secretary for transport and North Wales, Ken Skates, said: 'With the introduction of PAYG across North Wales coming soon, more and more people will get the opportunity to benefit from cheaper fares.' Alexia added: 'Whilst this ticketing method is currently exclusive to South Wales for the moment, we are excited to be exploring how we can roll it out across North Wales as a part of the Network North Wales project.' It's not the first big announcement from TfW this year. Back in April, it was revealed that a £1,000,000,000 'Welsh Tube' would be coming to the country, spanning a staggering 105 miles. More Trending The six core lines will connect the Welsh capital to the likes of Aberdare, Coryton, Merthyr, Tydfil, Rhymney and Treherbert. However, it's not without controversy. Metro readers shared their takes on the ambitious project, and opinion was split down the middle. While some thought it was a 'brilliant idea' others claimed that the 'rest of Wales [is] ignored yet again.' Helen Peely Jones Irving explained: 'Far more important is a train from Carmarthen to Aberystwyth so you do not have to travel to England to go from South Wales to North Wales, but as usual anywhere after Swansea does not count as Wales.' If you're a fan of rail journeys – but you like to luxe life – there are plenty of options out there for you. Metro recently boarded the luxury Pullman, for a trip back in time. While tickets for the famous train often come with a hefty price tag, this summer, you can take a ride and tuck into a three-course lunch — all for £10, as part of their Grape British Railway experience Want to romanticise your commute? One of the UK's busiest commuter trains is bringing back first class travel, with WiFi, faster internet and improved storage — but no free snacks. Okay, this train itself might not be boujee, but we reckon enjoying a mini safari from your seat is pretty A-list. If you hop on board a train at London's Liverpool St and go to Norwich, you'll be able to spot some polar bears along the way. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Red Arrows fly past: Where and when to see this bank holiday weekend's displays MORE: The cheapest Spanish holiday destinations revealed – from £13 flights to £31 hotels MORE: Vienna is one of Europe's most expensive cities, but I know how to do it on the cheap


Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
I know the hidden meaning of secret codes on Aldi shelf labels and it help reveals whether items will be discontinued
A SAVVY shopper has lifted the lid on a secret Aldi code that shows when products are about to vanish from shelves for good. Jordon Cox, known online as @Couponkiduk, shared the trick on Instagram after spotting a clue hidden on the supermarket's digital price tags. 2 Jordon Cox revealed a secret letter to look out for in Aldi Credit: Instagram/ @Couponkiduk 2 He says the supermarket code could tell you if the product is discontinued Credit: Instagram/ @Couponkiduk The coupon king has previously revealed his secret tricks on how to crack supermarket codes and find hidden savings on shelves. This time he pointed shoppers towards a hidden letter that'll reveal whether or not an item is to be discontinued. He said if the label has a capital 'D' printed in the top right corner, it means the item is discontinued. Once it sells out, it won't be restocked, so fans of the product should act fast. Jordon explained: 'When shopping, look closely at the product labels. If you see a D in the top right corner, that item's being discontinued when it's sold out. "So you might want to stock up when you're next at Aldi.' Aldi has built a reputation for its Specialbuys, which are bargain ranges of everything from kitchen gadgets to garden furniture, that arrive weekly but disappear as soon as shelves are cleared. The aisle has become a cult shopping destination in its own right, filled with limited-edition items that rarely return once sold out. Lidl runs a similar concept, meaning shoppers across the UK have learned the golden rule: if you spot something you like, grab it there and then. Upcoming Specialbuys are advertised in-store booklets and on Aldi's website, with exact dates for when they will land. All upcoming 'Aldi Finds' in the middle aisle next week – including portable chargers, power toothbrushes & dryer balls This week's line-up includes new dinner sets and kitchen essentials, but previous hits have ranged from cut-price Bosch tool dupes to hot tubs and patio sets. Aldi has also revealed the best times to shop this summer to avoid crowds and get first dibs on Specialbuys. The discounter says mornings between 8am and 10am are often the quietest, while Thursdays and Sundays are the key days for new middle-aisle stock. Arriving early on those days gives bargain hunters the best chance of nabbing the most sought-after deals. Late afternoons between 4pm and 5pm, and evenings from 8pm to 10pm, are also good times to shop if the aim is to dodge queues. Shoppers heading in later at night might also find discounts on bakery, meat and deli goods, with red sticker reductions of up to 75% applied to items close to their best-before date. How to cut the cost of your grocery shop SAVING on your shop can make a big difference to your wallet. Here are some tips from comparison site about how you can cut the cost of your shopping bills: Write yourself a list – Only buy items that you need. If it isn't on your list, don't put it in the trolley Only buy items that you need. If it isn't on your list, don't put it in the trolley Create a budget – Work out a weekly budget for your food shopping – Work out a weekly budget for your food shopping Never shop hungry – you are far more likely to buy more food if your tummy is rumbling – you are far more likely to buy more food if your tummy is rumbling Don't buy pre-chopped veggies or fruit – The extra they'll charge for chopping can be eye watering – The extra they'll charge for chopping can be eye watering Use social media – follow your favourite retailers to find out about the latest deals – follow your favourite retailers to find out about the latest deals Be disloyal – You may want to go to different stores to find the best bargains – You may want to go to different stores to find the best bargains Check the small print – It's always worth checking the price per kg/lb/litre when comparing offers so you're making a like for like decision as a bigger box won't necessarily mean you get more – It's always worth checking the price per kg/lb/litre when comparing offers so you're making a like for like decision as a bigger box won't necessarily mean you get more Use your loyalty cards – Don't be afraid to sign up to them all. They all work slightly differently – work out what bonus suits you better and remember to trade in your points for additional rewards Extra perks On top of the in-store tricks, Aldi is currently giving away a £50 voucher every day until the end of this month. Parents only need to send their name and email address to SummerSupportScheme@ to enter, with winners chosen at random. Bargain hunters at other chains are also finding success by timing their trips. Experts say Wednesdays are the best day to head to B&M as that's when most markdowns land, while Home Bargains fans should arrive early in the morning as stores restock from 7:30am.