Jonathan Gee, a 31-year-old worker with Tourette's syndrome, has been awarded £9,710 after being dismissed from his position at JF Renshaw, a baking goods manufacturer, for swearing at a colleague. The dismissal occurred in late 2020 after Mr. Gee expressed frustration over what he perceived as his colleague's lack of effort. The Liverpool Employment Tribunal found that Mr. Gee faced discrimination due to his disabilities, which were viewed by the company as a burden.
The tribunal revealed that Mr. Gee's employment history included 56 roles, many of which ended due to outbursts linked to his Tourette's syndrome and other conditions, including ADHD, OCD, and PTSD. The judge noted that Mr. Gee struggled to maintain employment due to his conditions, which caused extreme frustration when others did not adhere to rules or instructions.
The judge stated that Mr. Gee's dismissal was not coincidental to a meeting he had with his area manager to discuss potential adjustments for his working conditions. Although the company cited the need to reduce temporary staff in his termination letter, the tribunal found that only Mr. Gee and another employee with attendance issues were let go.
Mr. Gee later applied for similar positions at JF Renshaw in 2021 and 2023 but was rejected both times. The judge concluded that these rejections were also discriminatory, as they were based on Mr. Gee's disabilities. The tribunal report indicated that Mr. Gee experienced emotional distress following his dismissal and rejections, leading to self-harming behaviors as a coping mechanism.
The judge highlighted that Mr. Gee's conditions created a compulsion to work, and being denied employment opportunities had a lasting negative impact on his attitude towards work. Currently, Mr. Gee prefers to work alone, feeling unable to collaborate with others due to concerns about being judged or misunderstood.