A senior fire service manager has been dismissed from his position after a scathing employment tribunal ruled he discriminated against a disabled employee suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The tribunal heard a series of shocking incidents, including the moment the manager callously threw the vulnerable man's mobile phone into a hedge.
A Litany of Failures and Discrimination
The case centred on Watch Commander Mark Healey, a long-serving firefighter whose career was derailed after he developed PTSD following a traumatic incident. The tribunal found that Station Manager Paul Higgins, his superior at West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, engaged in a sustained campaign of discrimination.
Mr Healey, who had an exemplary 16-year record, was subjected to a hostile environment after his diagnosis. The tribunal heard evidence that Mr Higgins failed to make reasonable adjustments, made disparaging remarks about his condition, and ultimately created a culture where the disabled employee was unfairly scrutinised and marginalised.
The Phone in the Hedge: A Callous Act
The most visceral example of the ill-treatment occurred when Mr Healey, in the midst of a severe PTSD episode, was on the phone seeking urgent help from a mental health charity. Instead of offering support, Station Manager Higgins allegedly demanded the phone and then threw it into a garden hedge, severing the lifeline to his counsellor.
This act was described by the tribunal as a profoundly dismissive and damaging response to a employee in clear distress, highlighting a complete failure of duty of care.
Tribunal's Damning Verdict and Fallout
The employment tribunal delivered a unanimous verdict, upholding Mr Healey's claims of disability discrimination, harassment, and victimisation. The ruling painted a picture of a manager who was "dismissive, obstructive and discriminatory" towards his subordinate's disability.
In the wake of the tribunal's findings, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that Station Manager Paul Higgins has been dismissed from his post. A spokesperson for the service stated that they expect the "highest standards of behaviour from all staff" and that they are committed to implementing the tribunal's recommendations to improve support for employees with disabilities.
This case serves as a stark reminder to all employers of the critical importance of supporting mental health in the workplace and the severe consequences of failing to uphold the Equality Act 2010.
