Bloke sues company for no pay rise despite calling in sick for the past 15 years
Don’t miss a thing! Sign up to the Daily Star’s newsletter
We have more newsletters
A bloke who hasn't worked since 2008 has tried suing his employers for not giving him a payrise.
Senior IT worker Ian Clifford took tech giants IBM to a tribunal with the audacious claim that he was being discriminated against as a disabled employee.
Not content with earning an annual salary of £54,028 for the past 15 years without putting a single shift in, Clifford argued it is "not generous enough" because it will "wither" over time due to inflation.
READ MORE: AI will soon 'replace 80% of jobs' so people can do 'better things' than work
A judge hearing the tribunal in Reading, Berkshire rejected his claims of discrimination and instead told him he was being treated with a "very substantial benefit" and "favourable treatment".
The IT specialist who studied at King's College London, started working for Lotus Development in 2000 before it was acquired by IBM.
He went on sick leave in September 2008 and remained off work until 2013, when he had raised a grievance.
Under the grievance, Mr Clifford complained that he hadn't received a pay rise and also complained about holiday pay for the five-year period.
In April 2013, when Mr Clifford was in his mid-30s, a "compromise agreement" was reached and his complaints were settled by putting him on the company's disability plan.
Under the plan, a person who is unable to work is not dismissed, but remains an employee and has "no obligation to work", it was heard.
In Mr Clifford's case, his agreed salary was £72,037 – meaning from 2013 he would be paid £54,028 per year after 25% was deducted.
The plan was fixed in place for more than 30 years until he reached the retirement age of 65, meaning he will receive a total of over £1.5 million.
For more shocking stories from the Daily Star, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters
here
He was also paid £8,685 to settle his holiday pay complaints in 2013 and agreed never to raise a further grievance about the same issues.
But, in February 2022 Mr Clifford took IBM to an employment tribunal with new disability discrimination claims, mirroring his previous grievance.
Employment Judge Paul Housego dismissed his case.
Judge Housego concluded: "It is more favourable treatment, not less."
READ NEXT:
- Savvy bloke charges beachgoers 80p a minute to take a dump in makeshift toilet
- Second earthquake hits California in two days as houses 'shake' and people 'scared'
- Dead body found in freezer of major fast food restaurant 'was an employee'
- London
- Jobs
- Money
Source: Read Full Article