Mr H Morsing v Howden Joinery Group plc — 2024

The claimant requested to continue working two days per week in the office after the respondent required employees to attend the office three days per week. His reasons included tiredness from an additional commute, additional commuting cost, and his view that the team he worked most closely with was not based at the same office location.

The tribunal found that the respondent considered the request and appeal in a reasonable manner. It accepted that Jack Norris and Martin Gillon genuinely concluded that granting the request would have a detrimental effect on ability to meet customer demand and a detrimental impact on quality, based on their view of the claimant's role and the respondent's operations.

The tribunal did not find that the respondent simply applied a diktat from above or failed to consider the claimant's circumstances. It concluded that the evidence did not show non-compliance with section 80G(1) or that the rejection decision was based on incorrect facts.