Prof Jo Phoenix vs The OU - Employment Tribunal Thread 7

[ickky]

Started on 2nd October at Watford Employment Tribunal (Radius House, 51 Clarendon Rd, Watford WD17 1HP 01923 281750)

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URGENT CURRENT CASE - Public Access Request - J Phoenix - The Open University - 3322700/2021

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Abbreviations

JP - Jo Phoenix, Claimant (C)
OU - The Open University, Respondent (R)
J - Regional Employment Judge Young
P - Panel or panel member
BC - Ben Cooper KC, Counsel for C
JM - Jane Mulcahy KC, Counsel for R
OU Departments & Networks:
HWSRA - Health & Wellbeing Strategic Research Area
FASS - Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
SPC - Dept of Social Policy & Criminology
KMi - Knowledge Media Institute
GCRN - Gender Critical Research Network

OU witnesses

PB - Dr Paraskevi Boukli, Former Senior Lecturer Criminology, Deputy Head SPC 2021-22
IF - Prof Ian Fribbance Dean of FASS
MW - Prof Marcia Wilson, Dean EDI, 2020-23
CM - Caragh Molloy, Group People Director 2019-23
LD - Dr Leigh Downes, Senior Lecturer in Criminology (in SPC), Academic Lead for EDI FASS 2019-21
PK - Peter Keogh, Professor Health & Society, Member RSSH
CW - Dr Christopher Williams, Senior Lecturer History
KS - Kevin Shakesheff. PVC for Research and Innovation
NatS - Natalie Starkey, Outreach & Public Engagement Officer Sch Physical Sciences, 2019-22
HBC - Helen Bowes-Catton, Lecturer Social Research Methods
JD - John Domingue, Prof of Computing Science, Director KMi, 2015-22
LW - Louise Westmarland, Prof of Criminology, Co-Deputy Head SPC, 2018-21, Current Head SPC
RH - Richard Holliman, Prof Engaged Research, Head School Environment, Earth & Ecosystem Sciences, 2019-22. Member of Investigation Panel investigating the C’s grievance
DD - Dr Deborah Drake, Senior Lecturer Criminology, Head of SPC 2018-21😇
CT - Catherine Tomlinson, Senior Student Advisor
SD - Shaun Daley, Head OU’s Resourcing Hub. Head Strategic Resources, Co-Chair OU’s LGBT+ Staff Network
NS - Nicola Snarey, Assoc Lecturer Eng Language
CT - Cath Tomlinson, Senior Student Advisor
SJ - Samantha Jacobson, Employee Relations Case Manager

Witness for JP:

SE - Professor Sarah Earle, Head of the HWSRA

Tribunal Tweets - https://twitter.com/tribunaltweets

TT coverage so far - https://tribunaltweets.substack.com/p/professor-jo-phoenix-v-the-open-university

Prof Jo Phoenix Witness Statement (scroll to bottom of page and download)

https://jophoenix.substack.com/p/phoenix-v-open-university?sd=pf

Thread 1 https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4905118-jo-phoenix-vs-the-ou-employment-tribunal-2nd-october-whispers-ben-cooper?page=1

Thread 2 https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4913946-prof-jo-phoenix-vs-the-ou-employment-tribunal-thread-2?page=1

Thread 3 https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4917480-prof-jo-phoenix-vs-the-ou-employment-tribunal-thread-3

Thread 4 https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4918479-prof-jo-phoenix-vs-the-ou-employment-tribunal-thread-4

Thread 5 https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4919223-prof-jo-phoenix-vs-the-ou-employment-tribunal-thread-5

Thread 6 https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4921308-prof-jo-phoenix-vs-the-ou-employment-tribunal-thread-6

@LarkLane she is not coming over as a shambles to me, others do e.g. CM but SJ at her level is working with a lot of limitations. Quite often there are reasonable delays on both sides e.g. people on leave, prior commitments. I have known claimants delay significantly by not sticking to time lines.

She is the witness I'm most sympathetic to. I know how academics are when dealing with administrative staff for the most part (NotAllAcademicsareLikeThat).... it's not great.

She's being thrown under the bus a little here IMO.

Oh good BC is pointing out the more senior staff could have prioritised Jo's complaint.

She had 4 complaints at the time about GC views!

www.shoosmiths.com/expertise/services/employment-and-immigration/hr-inspire. Maybe this lot

Yes

Isn't she professional services? Thinking of people in these roles as "admin" and slipping into thinking they can't be expected to take responsibility etc. is a peculiarly academic disease. Letting her defend the way she did her job is fair enough I be think (but I'm only reading here right now, not in the tribunal, so maybe I'm missing tone).

Did Cat (now at SW) ever work for Shoosmiths?

BC is saying more about the working group. They didn't tell you. They could have come to you and asked you about it if they wanted to get a move on, ask you how to avoid delays, can we go external to help speed up, etc.

SJ: They could have. I had four complaints at the time regarding GC views and 3 had a large no to get through and one was agst another person.

I agree. She was acting professionally within the limits of her role.

OK the point is that the panel didn't make this a priority

Fair enough, but academics tend to consider anyone asking them to do stuff that isn't research (i.e. that they don't want to do) in the same light in my experience.

What is the full name?

Ok. thanks, I'm not in the room as you are.

Shoosmiths hosted this at their offices about the “rise of transphobia”

https://www.assetfinanceinternational.com/index.php/people/members-blogs/members-blogs/leasing-professionals/22508-leasing-foundation-lgbtq-pride-celebration

they have also posted on Maya judgement
https://www.shoosmiths.com/insights/articles/balancing-transgender-rights-with-gender-critical-philosophical-beliefs-in-the-workplace

it seems the OU didn’t take that advice on board!

SJ is clear in her responses, answers the Qs.

Yeah agree, should be her manager taking responsibility

She is a good witness, very clear, just doing her job as directed.

Who is her manager and are they a witness?

If nothing else, she shows up everyone else who hasn't been doing this!

I can't believe the other witnesses when asked about the legal advice they got did not mention Shoosmiths. That is why you engage legal advice. So you are covered and they are the fallguys.

Yeah, the one that didn't even read the grievance.

Mentioned back in the thread somewhere, solicitor, now moved to Senior position in SW.

Yes she is dissembling. In reality she is like, of this is another thing that I need to deal with. To be honest, I would employ her.

Catherine Dixon I think: https://www.stonewall.org.uk/about-us/news/catherine-dixon-appointed-stonewall-chair

Shoosmiths may have provided the training but may not have provided legal advice.

Shoosmiths hosted this at their offices about the “rise of transphobia”

To "celebrate Pride Month" apparently. Weird way to celebrate, but ok