A beauty technician has been awarded £32,000 in compensation after being fired from her job following complaints about menopause symptoms. Chantelle Van Vliet, 48, had requested flexible working hours due to the severity of her condition, which she stated caused confusion and brain fog. Her employer, Footlaffs Limited, subsequently rebranded as Always Time to be Me Ltd, and Van Vliet was let go just days later.
Van Vliet, a senior aesthetic therapist with over 20 years of experience, worked for Footlaffs Limited in Petersfield, Hampshire, from June 2022. She reported experiencing significant menopause symptoms, including migraines, hot flushes, and urinary tract infections, which worsened through late 2023 and early 2024. In April 2024, she discussed her struggles with the clinic's boss, Karen Dodds, and considered hormone replacement therapy. A month later, she took a day off due to the severity of her symptoms.
Following this, Van Vliet emailed her manager and Mrs. Dodds requesting a three-month trial of flexible working hours to improve her work-life balance, citing her recent menopause diagnosis and its impact, particularly on later shifts. Her manager indicated the request would be discussed with Mrs. Dodds, but no further response was received. Shortly after, Van Vliet was removed from the rota, with the manager claiming she had no clients booked, which Van Vliet stated was untrue.
The following day, all Footlaffs staff were dismissed for redundancy. However, a significant majority of other therapists were offered new contracts with the rebranded business, run by Mrs. Dodds and Stephen Dodds. Van Vliet was the only beauty therapist not rehired, and no reason was provided. She took the company and the Dodds to an employment tribunal.
Employment Judge Jonathan Burns ruled that the reason for Van Vliet's dismissal was the inconvenience of employing someone experiencing menopause symptoms. The tribunal found that the clinic's bosses had constructive knowledge of Van Vliet's condition, and her request for flexible working was a request for reasonable adjustment for a disability. The judge concluded that it would have been reasonable to allow Van Vliet to adjust her shifts, especially as her request was modest and sensible. The company failed to provide evidence of any alternative, non-discriminatory reason for her dismissal.
Van Vliet won claims for disability discrimination, wrongful dismissal, deduction of wages, failure to make reasonable adjustments, and victimisation. Claims for automatic unfair dismissal and direct discrimination were dismissed. The tribunal found the company owed her £3,228 in unpaid wages and £510 in notice pay. She was also awarded £12,077 for loss of salary and £16,422 for injury to feelings due to the severe emotional impact of her dismissal. In total, she was awarded £32,237. However, as the new company, Always Time To Be Me Ltd, is in voluntary liquidation, it remains unclear when Van Vliet will receive her compensation. She is now self-employed and runs her own beauty therapy business.