DH boss' comments about me

[lividlil]

I have a disability and I'm a wheelchair user. DH handed his notice at work yesterday in order to start his own business and his boss said to him that they thought it was wrong DH hasn't disclosed my disability to them when he started there. Just for some background he has been there three years and probably had 2 days off in that time to care for me - on his return from those 2 days off his boss said to a new starting employee, 'Oh we are very family friendly here. Mr Lividlil has had to have some time off lately due to problems with his wife.'
I'm SO angry about it as I know he is in breach of the equalities act and I feel so upset that I don't have a right yo reply to his comment. DH doesn't want to say anything as he has to work for him for his notice period but would I be unreasonable to pursue this in some way further? And if I do how would I do it?!

Very rude and just no needed. What a dick lucky your dh is leaving.
Hope the business goes well

The 'Family Friendly' comment is how he wants to be seen. But it definitely isn't and unfortunately he is just a nasty piece of work. It's not just DH that thinks so.
People asking how his broken the law, as another poster said the law says there is no reason to disclose, DH didn't think there was anything to 'disclose' but as I'm a wheelchair user it's pretty clear at Christmas do's etc that I have a disability. So they have known for three years as it's pretty hard to hide! So the comment definitely wasn't in a 'what can we do to help you' way. He was just firing where it hurts.

Pile of sheepshit in an old feed bag, parcelled up all pretty for him on a warm day is the way to go here OP - no question! Revenge is a dish best served warm

did the boss mean he felt sad that dh hadnt told him and that if he had been told, he would have made appropriate changes to help your dh if needed?

tbh, im not actually sure what youre upset about, he hasnt discriminated against your dh and you have no direct relationship with him

@araiba As I've explained they've been aware of my disability from the beginning so it definitely isn't that.
That fact I have no direct relationship with him is the point. He shouldn't be mentioning me at all! I have no impact on the business/work environment at all.

It was just that DH didn't 'officially' disclose it - as he didn't need to!

So he made a comment about you (not even an employee) to a new recruit?

I'm SO angry about it as I know he is in breach of the equalities act

He hasn't fired your husband for non-disclosure. He has done nothing wrong besides be an arse.

It's fair enough to be annoyed or angry, but he hasn't breached anything; a very dubious claim to even data protection best practice.

Taking it out on your husband is particularly unfair. Often, being the bigger man means knowing when to keep quiet and that sounds like what he's done.

Actually I agree with the OP. I think absolutely technically saying to an employee that they hoodwinked their way into a job by not disclosing something which it would be illegal to require him to disclose breaches it. I think that if he was staying in the job it would certainly be a breach as it would mean he was being treated less favourably on the grounds of discrimination against a third party. But I think the fact the OPs DH is leaving skirts around this because it's not going to cause ongoing unfavourable treatment since it was mentioned.

IF he had been treated unfavourably because of it, yes BillSykes, be he wasn't and may never have been.

Totally understand your hurt and anger. You can phone Acas, it doesn't have to be your husband. It's weighing up the future impact though for your family. It really sucks and it would be great to take action against every ignorant person, but sometimes you have to leave it.

But why not speak to Acas and then your husband about what they say. I know an excellent legal company I would commend to you also. Please feel free to PM me , having been through it myself - although it was direct disability discrimination. But I might be able to help with the practical steps.

I totally understand why you are upset and you are right to be BUT perusing legal action or contacting him to have it out is going to be a waste of your time and energy.

Your dh is leaving. Legal action is hard and difficult and extremely unlikely to lead to much from what you have said, so the best revenge is to move on and live well.

Pursuing not perusing.

Actually I think, if he wasn't leaving, telling someone that they hoodwinked their way into a job because they didn't disclose something that they're not legally allowed to be expected to disclose is unfavourable treatment in itself. It's treating him differently from other staff. So, yes, technically it has been broken, but it would be extremely hard to prove and take action based on this one incident, and because he's leaving there are unlikely to be further incidents to back it up, so there's really nothing they can do about it unless they think he's going to get a poor reference as a result.

But, yes, technically it has been broken. Strongly enough to form an action with a reasonable chance of success, no. But broken to the absolute letter, yes.