Another GC employment tribunal: Roz Adams vs Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre #3

[nauticant]

Roz Adams was employed by Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre (ERCC) as a counsellor. She is claiming constructive dismissal for Gener Critical (GC) beliefs. The CEO of ERCC is a well known transwoman known for, among other things, controversial "reframe your trauma" remarks.

There's live tweeting from https://twitter.com/tribunaltweets or if Twitter doesn't show the tweets, look at https://nitter.net/tribunaltweets. There's an informative substack here: https://tribunaltweets.substack.com/p/adams-vs-edinburgh-rape-crisis-centre

This post explains how to get access to watch the hearing: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4988632-another-gc-employment-tribunal-roz-adams-vs-edinburgh-rape-crisis-centre-2?page=24&reply=132419912

Abbreviations:
J: Employment Judge McFatridge
RA: Roz Adams, the claimant
NC: Naomi Cunningham, barrister for the claimant
ERCC or R: Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre, the respondent
DH: David Hay KC, barrister for the respondent
KM: Katy McTernan, ERCC Senior management
MR: Mairi Rosko, ERCC Board Member
MS: Miren Sagues, ERCC Board Member
KH: Katie Horburgh, ERCC Board Member
AB: ERCC staff member (name redacted)
NCi: Nico Ciubotariu, COO of ERCC
MW: Mridul Wadhwa, CEO of ERCC
BP: Beira's Place

RA gave evidence over 15-18 January 2024.

Witnesses:
Nicole Jones (NJ): 18 January 2024 (on behalf of RA)
Mairi Rosko (MR): 19 January 2024 (on behalf of ERCC)
Katy McTernan (referred to both as KT and KM): 22 January 2024 (on behalf of ERCC)
[more to follow]

Thread #1: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4985570-another-gc-employment-tribunal-adams-vs-edinburgh-rape-crsis
Thread #2: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4988632-another-gc-employment-tribunal-roz-adams-vs-edinburgh-rape-crisis-centre-2

She was in tears😢

None of these orgs will ever commit to a definition in writing because they know if they made it cover everything they want it to it will be evidence of discrimination and misogyny and can be challenged.

If they make it too sensible and focused then they can't wield is as a weapon against heretics.

Better to just have a very vague and opaque 'organisational culture' built around 'values' that nobody can explain and can be twisted on a whim to suit every possible transgression or whiff of wrong think.

These people are gaslighting bullies.

Back t o the admin error of gross misconduct

Witness We got the wrong advice from our advisors

I can't answer in detail sorry

Said they got the wrong advice from HR advisors

Buck passing there

KM Gross misconduct was based on mistaken advice from our HR advice, and corrected. We got the wrong advice.

NC You are not suggesting gross misconduct words were inc in discip hearing invite by mistake.

KM I wasn't part of that. Can't answer in detail.

Roz agrees with line manger she can't work due to stress and is signed off for a month. What steps taken during investigation before and after her going off sick to look after her well being?

Witness says line manager kept in contact
NC no email saying x y z (she lists things)

Not aware of any email, text checking in

Says her manager kept in contact with her, but no emails asking how she was. Believes it was by text

NC RA goes off sick with stress. What support?

KM Her LM kept in contact. She had access to our wellbeing budget. [!]

NC There is no email from LM to RA asking how she is, do you want anything. Nothing of that sort.

KM Not aware of any email. Don't know. Understand lot of contact LM/RA was by text.

NC has all the text messages. Where there are they reaching out to Roz?

NC those texts messages (heavy sign from NC) tell me where they're you see Kim reaching out to offer support or a wellfare meeting or how she is

Long wait again

Looking at texts

Anything reaching out to her?

Waits...

NC Look at text messages. Where do you find Kim reaching out to RA to offer support etc. Where reaching out other than in the most cursory way to ask how she is.

Loooong pause.

"When can you come back to work?"

Witness waffles didn't specifically offer welfare meeting, but when Roz well enough to return to work they would meet with her then

NC - AB got treated very differently didn't they?

Stark contrast with how AB was treated

Break

KM She didn't specifically offer a welfare meeting, but would meet with RA when RA able to come back to work.

NC There is a sharp contrast in the manner RA is treated by management throughout and the support/concern etc shown to AB after AB had suffered the trauma of a polite email from a colleague.

Break time in the Tribunal.

Short Break - go on NC go find that difference in treatment over a quick coffee!

Thank God for a break, my head hurts from concentrating!

This is all quite amazing.

All she did was ask for the policy to not lie to service users.

To watchers. If NC is middle of 3 in desk closest to camera who are other 2?
Is one of them ERCC legal counsel?