ETZ 4(WR) EMPLOYMENT TRIBUNALS (SCOTLAND) Case no 4111836/2019 Held at Edinburgh on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and March 2021 and May 2021 (deliberation day) Employment Judge W A Meiklejohn Tribunal Member Mrs L Brown Tribunal Member Mr D Frew Mr M Ford v The Scottish Ministers — 2021

The claimant, a Pensions Administrator at the Scottish Public Pensions Agency, raised concerns about police injury benefits, firefighter benefits, and the final salary link in public sector pension schemes. The tribunal found that, except for one disclosure to the FCA, the Pensions Regulator and the Pensions Ombudsman where there was insufficient information, the claimant had made protected disclosures in relation to those issues.

The tribunal rejected the protected disclosure detriment claim. It found that the claimant's moves between teams were connected to operational matters, a stress reduction plan and working relationships, and were not detriments. It also found that the disciplinary process was initiated because of the claimant's conduct, including alleged misuse of official information, failure to follow instructions and providing information contrary to SPPA guidance, rather than because he had made protected disclosures.

The tribunal found that the claimant was dismissed for conduct. It held that the respondent had a genuine belief in the misconduct, reasonable grounds for that belief, and had carried out a reasonable investigation. The disciplinary and appeal processes were found to be fair, and the ordinary unfair dismissal and automatically unfair dismissal claims were dismissed. As no claim succeeded, no remedy arose.