21-05-2025
Executive ‘demoted' while having chemotherapy wins £1.2m
Ms Cawthorne started her new role in November and a new organisational chart was sent out in an email which left off Ms Wainwright.
'On 23 November 2018, [she] discovered a post on LinkedIn inviting viewers to 'Congratulate Shelley for starting a new position as Head of Installations at Cennox',' the tribunal heard.
Ms Wainwright emailed HR Director Jennifer Spencer-Lee to clarify what was happening and what impact it would have for her return.
Ms Spencer-Lee told Ms Wainwright it was not expected to affect her role and that Ms Cawthorne was leading the team for now.
The tribunal found that this email was 'misleading' as it gave the impression Ms Cawthorne's role was temporary.
Ms Wainwright was informed at a return to work meeting with Mr Garrod and Ms Spencer-Lee in June 2019 that the role was going to be split.
The tribunal heard that Ms Wainwright felt she had been demoted because of her cancer diagnosis and resigned in September.
'Act of discrimination'
Ms Wainwright said: 'I was assured that my role was unchanged but when I returned to work I did not return to my existing role. I was demoted and several key responsibilities were taken away from me.'
The tribunal found that Ms Wainwright had been misled about the changes to her role and discriminated against.
Employment Judge Catrin Lewis said: 'We find that [Ms Wainwright] felt traumatised and broken as a result of she had indeed been lied to, which was found to have been an act of discrimination.'
Ms Wainwright has been awarded a total compensation of £1,224,861.94, including a previously announced £40,000 for injury to feelings.
The award also includes almost £400,00 in past loss of earnings, £300,00 for future losses and £130,000 in interest payments.
Speaking about her ordeal, Ms Wainwright said losing her job following her diagnosis had 'destroyed' her and she had gone through the employment tribunal process on 'principal'.
She said: 'I never did this for money, I did this on principle.
'To lose your job and career just because of a cancer diagnosis really destroys you, at a time when everything is in question, I was fighting for my life and to have everything else taken away from you is unbelievable.'
