Email insult was unfair so sacking was partly justified

Agnes Wilkie, a woman television producer for Scottish television (STV), who insulted her boss by email will not be reinstated to her £70,000 per year job and will only receive compensation of 12.5% of her loses because she was 75% to blame an Employment Tribunal has ruled.

 

Having referred to her boss Bobby Hain as a “big fat thing” and a “blob” in email exchanges with colleagues Wilkie was suspended then sacked.

 

Hain who once worked as a DJ with the name Mr Bobby, which gave rise to the nickname Mr Blobby, felt undermined by the serious and calculated conduct of Wilkie, which was said to be “tantamount to bullying”.

 

Wilkie in her defence said the names were typical of the media world she worked in and had offered to apologise, which was rejected by Hain.

 

Both sides claimed victory of sorts with STV stating “(employees) have the right to be treated with courtesy” and the National Union Of Journalists arguing, “ There is a lesson for employers to take a reasonable approach and not to overact.” adding “It is a lesson to all workers to take care when using e-mails”.

The contents of this article are intended for general information purposes only and shall not be deemed to be, or constitute legal advice. We cannot accept responsibility for any loss as a result of acts or omissions taken in respect of this article.