Pre-school worker unfairly dismissed

A WOMAN who dedicated 10 years service to a pre-school nursery in Royston has been awarded compensation for unfair dismissal. Carolyn Fidgett of Heathfield, Royston, was deputy manager at Sunhill Daycare, and said she was shocked when she was told she wa

A WOMAN who dedicated 10 years' service to a pre-school nursery in Royston has been awarded compensation for unfair dismissal.

Carolyn Fidgett of Heathfield, Royston, was deputy manager at Sunhill Daycare, and said she was shocked when she was told she was to be demoted and her salary cut.

The incident happened in December last year after the amalgamation of the baby unit and the upper unit.

She said: "I decided to work part-time for health reasons.

"This was agreed with the managing director of the company, and he agreed to pay my existing salary because he did not want to lose me."

However, on December 22 last year, Mrs Fidgett received a letter telling her of the changes which meant she was demoted to the lowest salaried position.

She said: "I was shocked and upset. I had no warning."

At an employment tribunal hearing at Bury St Edmunds, Claire Jones, staff relations manager for Sunhill, agreed that Mrs Fidgett was excellent with the children and parents at the nursery, and there were no complaints about the care she had been given

The tribunal panel decided Mrs Fidgett was unfairly dismissed and awarded her £5,683.