Worker sues Ministry of Defence after colleagues didn’t give him ‘good luck card’ when leaving
A man who worked at the Ministry of Defence has sued them for harassment after he didn't receive a 'good luck' card when leaving his role.
It's something that could rub anyone up the wrong way, but James Eyles explained that he was 'upset' that his time at the organisation wasn't formally acknowledged.
An employment tribunal heard that the accommodation stores manager believed he was targeted due to his disabilities and mental health conditions.
These include anxiety, depression, paranoia and PTSD, but the panel dismissed his claim, saying that it was 'discretionary' for those at NATO headquarters to gift him a card or not.
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Eyles added that he wasn't the only person on the team who didn't have their exit recognised while at the legal hearing in Cambridge, UK.
It was revealed that he began working for the MoD in March 2020, and after departing in July 2023, he was not given a 'good luck' message.
Eyles was responsible for managing the department's accommodation stores at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Mons, Belgium.
He was responsible for providing furniture and furnishings to families and staff of both the British MoD and NATO.
The manager also took charge of a team based at Sennelager in Germany, but they were transferred to another department in May 2021.
Eyles described this as a 'demotion', claiming he was made to do 'menial tasks' after being removed from management.
During the hearing, he claimed that his boss 'belittled and scolded' him, even calling him 'incompetent' after a furniture mix up, while the MoD became aware of his mental health conditions in December that year.
A request for a two-year extension on his tour was turned down as a result of a 'review' of the department's structure in September 2022, while just three months later, he was rejected from a position as housing manager.
By March 2023, Eyles withdrew from a different role, this time as the repair department manager at Sennelager.
"[The MoD] accepts that when [he] left on 16 July 2023 he was not presented with a Good Luck card or presentation,' Employment Judge Kate Hutchings stated, after his departure was not acknowledged.
She went on: "[He] did not challenge the [MoD's] evidence that not everyone had a presentation or received a good luck card when they left.
'"Indeed, [another colleague] told us she did not get a presentation or card when she left her post in July 2024."
They described this as 'unwanted conduct', though she added that there was 'no evidence the reason he did not receive a card or presentation was due to his disabilities', as his line managers were simply off sick at the time and couldn't get plans in place.
"In any event, it was discretionary for colleagues to arrange this. For these reasons, we conclude that this complaint of harassment related to disability fails," they concluded.
It concluded that none of Eyle's claims were serious, while the majority didn't happen at all, though the man still works for the MoD.
Topics: Mental Health, UK News
Joshua Nair