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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Woman wins job back in age case | Woman wins job back in age case |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A 67-year-old hospital worker from Cornwall has won her job back in a "landmark" age discrimination claim. | A 67-year-old hospital worker from Cornwall has won her job back in a "landmark" age discrimination claim. |
| Clerical worker Ann Southcott was dismissed from Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro in 2006, one day before age discrimination rules came into force. | Clerical worker Ann Southcott was dismissed from Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro in 2006, one day before age discrimination rules came into force. |
| Mrs Southcott's union said the hospital trust had agreed to allow her to return and award her back pay from October. The trust settled out of court. | Mrs Southcott's union said the hospital trust had agreed to allow her to return and award her back pay from October. The trust settled out of court. |
| Mrs Southcott said she was delighted with the result. | Mrs Southcott said she was delighted with the result. |
| She was dismissed aged 66, on 30 September, the day before the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations were introduced. | She was dismissed aged 66, on 30 September, the day before the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations were introduced. |
| I hope this decision will give new heart to other people who have lost their jobs because of their age Unison spokesman | I hope this decision will give new heart to other people who have lost their jobs because of their age Unison spokesman |
| She was told she would receive 11 weeks' pay rather than the 11 months' pay she would have been entitled to if she had been dismissed one day later - on 1 October. | She was told she would receive 11 weeks' pay rather than the 11 months' pay she would have been entitled to if she had been dismissed one day later - on 1 October. |
| Mrs Southcott said: "I'm delighted with this result as I was clearly discriminated against on the grounds of my age, which was grossly unfair. | Mrs Southcott said: "I'm delighted with this result as I was clearly discriminated against on the grounds of my age, which was grossly unfair. |
| "I cannot afford to give up work at this time, and why should I when I was doing a job I loved?" | "I cannot afford to give up work at this time, and why should I when I was doing a job I loved?" |
| Unison, the health workers' union, had planned to take the case to an employment tribunal. It said the "landmark victory" was a "fair and just outcome". | Unison, the health workers' union, had planned to take the case to an employment tribunal. It said the "landmark victory" was a "fair and just outcome". |
| A spokesman said: "I hope this decision will give new heart to other people who have lost their jobs because of their age." | A spokesman said: "I hope this decision will give new heart to other people who have lost their jobs because of their age." |
| A number of employees aged over 65 will also return to work | |
| A new policy on age discrimination had been agreed with the Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust, he added. | A new policy on age discrimination had been agreed with the Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust, he added. |
| Mrs Southcott will return to work in the therapies department at the hospital. The trust also agreed to provide any necessary training to enable her to carry out her duties. | Mrs Southcott will return to work in the therapies department at the hospital. The trust also agreed to provide any necessary training to enable her to carry out her duties. |
| They will review her employment on or after 1 April 2008 in line with service developments. | They will review her employment on or after 1 April 2008 in line with service developments. |
| Trust chief executive John Watkinson said a small number of employees aged over 65 who had been dismissed last year would be returning to work. | Trust chief executive John Watkinson said a small number of employees aged over 65 who had been dismissed last year would be returning to work. |