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Diabetes sufferer loses tribunal

A DIABETES sufferer who claimed he was overlooked for a job because of his disability, has lost his case. Edward Newman, 39, from Moreton, told a Liverpool employment tribunal that he believed he had been unfairly discriminated against because of his condition.But the tribunal did not agree and did not uphold his complaint. Mr Newman, who worked in a packing department at Lever Faberge Ltd, in Port Sunlight, alleged that bosses told him he could not take up a new position because he might pass out and lay undiscovered for hours. But Mr Newman, from Millhouse Lane, said he felt his diabetes should not prevent him taking up a new job in a different department.He said: "The risks would be minimal, if any. The actual job is very close to the packing hall and someone else nearby could keep an eye on me."I didn't see that being a risk."

The panel was also told how Mr Newman had been taken off night shifts in November last year, after the company doctor found it aggravated his diabetes.He had also suffered problems with his lower back which forced him to take 11 weeks off work.When he returned he was put on restrictive duties and told not to lift weights of more than 15kg, the tribunal heard.The panel heard how bosses had put Mr Newman in a series of temporary positions at a time when more than 100 of his fellow employees were also looking to be redeployed following the closure of the soap factory at Port Sunlight.

Emlyn Williams, representing Lever Faberge Ltd, said: "The respondent hasn't failed to find you a job."Throughout the time they knew you had diabetes they retained you on your shift pay."The company has done nothing wrong, they protected your pay, they gave you work to do when they were suffering major restructuring because of the closure of one of their sites." The company acted reasonably."

(Article August 2002)

	[ UNILEVER ] [ DIABETES ]
.	Diabetes sufferer loses tribunal A DIABETES sufferer who claimed he was overlooked for a job because of his disability, has lost his case. Edward Newman, 39, from Moreton, told a Liverpool employment tribunal that he believed he had been unfairly discriminated against because of his condition.But the tribunal did not agree and did not uphold his complaint. Mr Newman, who worked in a packing department at Lever Faberge Ltd, in Port Sunlight, alleged that bosses told him he could not take up a new position because he might pass out and lay undiscovered for hours. But Mr Newman, from Millhouse Lane, said he felt his diabetes should not prevent him taking up a new job in a different department.He said: "The risks would be minimal, if any. The actual job is very close to the packing hall and someone else nearby could keep an eye on me."I didn't see that being a risk." The panel was also told how Mr Newman had been taken off night shifts in November last year, after the company doctor found it aggravated his diabetes.He had also suffered problems with his lower back which forced him to take 11 weeks off work.When he returned he was put on restrictive duties and told not to lift weights of more than 15kg, the tribunal heard.The panel heard how bosses had put Mr Newman in a series of temporary positions at a time when more than 100 of his fellow employees were also looking to be redeployed following the closure of the soap factory at Port Sunlight. Emlyn Williams, representing Lever Faberge Ltd, said: "The respondent hasn't failed to find you a job."Throughout the time they knew you had diabetes they retained you on your shift pay."The company has done nothing wrong, they protected your pay, they gave you work to do when they were suffering major restructuring because of the closure of one of their sites." The company acted reasonably." (Article August 2002)