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Ban on probationary staff working from home 'implicitly discriminatory', lawyers tell tribunal
Summary
Ms X, a scientist with stage‑2 endometriosis, was hired by Abbott Ireland Ltd in spring 2024 and worked on site for just under six months. She claimed the company's policy of denying probationary staff the option to work from home was implicitly discriminatory, as it withheld accommodation for her disability for six months. Ms X said she had been promised a hybrid role and had turned down other jobs that required a five‑day on‑site commitment. After a sudden department‑wide meeting, a senior manager announced that no more work‑from‑home would be allowed beyond one day a week. Ms X was later found to have failed her probation for "conduct and performance" after eight late arrivals and three uncertified absences, and was terminated with a letter stating her performance did not meet company expectations. The case is adjourned for further witness evidence.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Ban on probationary staff working from home 'implicitly discriminatory', lawyers tell tribunal. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial
When:
- 2025-06-04 Publication
Why: Her evidence was that she was "promised in the interview that it would be a hybrid role" and that she had turned down roles elsewhere with a five-day-a-week on-site commitment because of that. CNI source report
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