Claimant v Manne v Poundland Ltd — 2018

This was a preliminary hearing on a single issue: whether Mr V Manne was disabled within the meaning of the Equality Act 2010 at the relevant time. The tribunal also noted that this claim was consolidated with his second claim, no. 2301747/2017. No merits issues or remedy were decided in this judgment.

The tribunal accepted medical evidence showing stress and depression from around the end of December 2016, including GP records from 4 January 2017, a change to Sertraline on 15 February 2017, a diagnosis of work-related stress on 3 March 2017, a letter from South London & Maudsley NHS Trust dated 15 June 2017, and evidence that CBT began in April 2017. It also relied on Med 3 forms and the claimant’s oral evidence about the effect on his day-to-day life.

The tribunal found compelling evidence of a mental impairment, namely stress and depression, continuing at least until the effective date of termination on 23 June 2017. It was satisfied that the impairment had a long-term effect and that the claimant’s normal day-to-day activities were adversely affected in a substantial way. It rejected the respondent’s argument that the evidence showed only a reaction to adverse circumstances, and concluded that the claimant was disabled at the material time.