HR Magazine quotes Dan Pollard on a successful constructive dismissal claim involving a gender-critical scientist
A scientist has won his claim for constructive dismissal after experiencing hostility at work for his gender critical views.
Peter Wilkins worked for the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) in Porton Down, Wiltshire, before resigning from his role in 2022 following the harassment and discrimination he faced as a result of his gender critical views.
Wilkins stated his support for the concept of immutable sex, and was labelled by colleagues as transphobic, “sad and pathetic” and “a rubbish employee”. A tribunal has now ruled that his departure was constructive dismissal.
Commenting on the case, Dan Pollard, Partner in our Employment team, comments in HR Magazine. He cautions that HR professionals must be careful to apply critical thinking in cases like Wilkins'. He comments:
Organisations should be especially careful that they treat employees even-handedly.
"There can sometimes be an element of 'group think' within organisations motivated by an effort to be inclusive and progressive. This is a reminder of the need to critically assess even well-meaning HR policies in case they impact the rights of others.
Read the full article in HR Magazine here.
