Dyslexic worker 'unfairly' denied job

A social worker, who claimed she was barred from a senior position because she had dyslexia, has agreed an out-of-court settlement.

Judith Windross won the payout after accusing her bosses at Hampshire County Council of sabotaging a £30,000 move to a new job with Wokingham District Council by providing an "extremely offensive" reference.

Mrs Windross was claiming compensation from both councils on the basis that they broke the terms of the Disability Discrimination Act.

She said Hampshire County Council had discriminated against her when a manager wrote that her "communication and writing need to be developed." Another supervisor wrote: "Due to dyslexia there is a need for additional support in written work."

Wokingham District Council admitted it was prepared to hire her until it saw her references, which also said she was not a team player, was "narrowly focused" and found it hard to manage her stress levels.

Mrs Windross told an employment tribunal hearing that asking her to improve her writing skills was like "telling someone in a wheelchair they need to walk."

The out-of-court settlement was made on day two of the employment tribunal in Reading when the hearing was halted and all three parties involved met in private to reach a financial agreement - in return for Mrs Windross withdrawing her claims for disability discrimination.

The pay-off was greeted with dismay by employers' organisations that claimed the settlement could provide a benchmark for other dyslexia sufferers claiming compensation for being rejected for posts.

A spokesperson for Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce said the implications of the case could be worrying for businesses, especially those with few resources.

"There are certain employers who may say it's not fair that money has to be spent on someone because of their disability, only to provide equal opportunities.

"In the Thames Valley there is a huge number of small multi-national companies and this is going to be a big issue for them.

"It is a contentious subject if we are saying to companies with little money that they have to lawfully provide thousands of pounds worth of computer equipment in order to give dyslexia sufferers equal rights."