Mrs Onuoha v Croydon Health Services NHS Trust: 2300516/2019
| Jurisdiction | England & Wales |
| Judgment Date | 21 December 2021 |
| Date | 21 December 2021 |
| Citation | 2300516/2019 |
| Court | Employment Tribunal |
| Published date | 05 January 2022 |
| Subject Matter | Unfair Dismissal |
Case no. 2300516/2019
1
EMPLOYMENT TRIBUNALS
Claimant: Mrs Onuoha
Respondent: Croydon Health Services NHS Trust
Heard at: London South Employment Tribunal
On: 4 – 14 October 2021
Before: Employment Judge Dyal, Miss Foster-Norman,
Ms Forecast
Representation:
Claimant: Mr M Phillips, Counsel
Respondent: Mr B Jones, Counsel
RESERVED JUDGMENT AND REASONS
Case no. 2300516/2019
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
JUDGMENT .......................................................................................................................................... 6
REASONS ............................................................................................................................................. 8
The issues ......................................................................................................................................... 8
The hearing ....................................................................................................................................... 8
Findings of fact ................................................................................................................................. 9
The parties................................................................................................................................. 9
Dress code policy documentation ........................................................................................ 10
Characteristics of the Cross-Necklace ................................................................................ 13
Historical permission to wear the Cross-Necklace ............................................................ 15
List of Issues 15(a): In late 2016, Ms Wright demanded that the Claimant remove her
cross, and threatened to “escalate it” if the Claimant did not comply ............................ 15
CQC inspection and response ............................................................................................. 16
List of Issues 15(b): On 7 August 2018, Ms Wright demanded that the Claimant
remove or conceals her cross, and threatened to “escalate it” and initiate disciplinary
proceedings ............................................................................................................................. 18
List of Issues 15 (c - e): email of 9 August 2018 and chasers, and coffee room
interaction ................................................................................................................................ 19
List of Issues 15 (f): Ms Edmondson walking into the operating theatre where the
Claimant was in charge, while a patient was on the surgery table, on 21 August 2018
.................................................................................................................................................. 20
List of Issues 15(g): Commencing the disciplinary investigation in early October 2018
.................................................................................................................................................. 21
List of Issues 15 (h): Sending the Claimant a letter stating she was required to submit
a statement by 8 October and to attend the investigation meeting on 12 October while
the letter, misleadingly dated 2 October, was only posted on 8 October and received
on 10 October 2018 ............................................................................................................... 21
Grievance: protected act ....................................................................................................... 22
Interview with Ms Muchengwa ............................................................................................. 22
List of Issues 15(i): Ms Edmondson’s comment “We are still waiting for the hearing
regarding the one on your neck” .......................................................................................... 22
List of Issues 15(j): Stephen Lord’s letter to the Claimant dated 20 November 2018,
including accusation of “continued failure to comply with the Dress Code and Uniform
Policy”....................................................................................................................................... 23
List of Issues 15(k): re-deployment of the Claimant to various non-clinical roles since
28 November 2018 ................................................................................................................. 24
Grievance interview ............................................................................................................... 25
Early conciliation ..................................................................................................................... 25
Case no. 2300516/2019
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List of Issues 15(l): Being approached by Mr Duymun on 31 January 2019 to demand
that the Claimant removes or conceals her cross ............................................................. 25
Claim issued ............................................................................................................................ 26
List of Issues 15 (m): The contents of the Investigation Report and the Grievance
Report provided to the Claimant on 14 February 2019 .................................................... 26
List of Issues 15 (n – p): The disciplinary hearing on 13 March 2019; Refusal to
postpone the disciplinary hearing until the Claimant’s witness comes back f rom stress
leave; Refusing the Claimant’s request for permission to tape-record the disciplinary
hearing ..................................................................................................................................... 27
List of Issues 15 (q – r): The contents of the outcome letter of 28 March 2019, finding
the Claimant guilty of the disciplinary allegations against her; Imposing the sanction of
final written warning on 28 March 2019 .............................................................................. 27
List of Issues 15 (s): Dismissing the Claimant’s grievance in April-May 2019 .............. 28
List of Issues 15 (t): Dismissing the Claimant’s disciplinary appeal, by letter dated 16
August 2019 ............................................................................................................................ 28
List of Issues 26 (u), (w): Mr Lord’s demand at the meeting in late August 2019 that
the Claimant removes her Cross-Necklace before going back to work in the Theatre,
and the threat to call the security to remove Claimant from the Theatre; Failing to
confirm the contents of the meeting in late August 2019 by a letter to the Claimant,
despite the Claimant’s repeated requests .......................................................................... 29
List of Issues 26 (v): Continued re-deployment to non-clinical duties since August
2019 .......................................................................................................................................... 29
List of Issues 26 (x): Commencing the Second Investigation by letter dated 10
January 2020 .......................................................................................................................... 29
List of Issues 15 (y, z, aa): The investigatory interview on 10 February 2020; Refusal
to permit audio-recording of the investigatory interview on 10 February 2020;
Inaccurate and incomplete notes of the investigatory interview on 10 February 2020 30
Stress leave ............................................................................................................................. 31
List of Issues 15 (bb): the contents of the letter of 17 August 2020, requiring the
Claimant to attend the disciplinary hearing on 26 September (despite her being on
stress leave) and threatening to proceed in her absence ................................................ 31
List of Issues 15 (cc): The contents of the Second Investigation Report provided in
August 2020, in particular (i) the alleged ‘false’ denial that any permission had been
previously given to the Claimant to wear her crucifix and (ii) the recommendation to
proceed to a disciplinary hearing. ........................................................................................ 32
Resignation and termination of employment ...................................................................... 33
What became of Ms Conran’s recommendations? ........................................................... 34
Claimant’s informal audit ....................................................................................................... 34
Health and safety findings of fact ......................................................................................... 36
Expert evidence on the significance of wearing the Cross .............................................. 41
Law ................................................................................................................................................... 42
European Convention of Human Rights ............................................................................. 42
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