Daily Star

HOPPING MAD AT JOB JIBE Lecturer in tribunal win

- ■ by ROBIN COTTLE robin.cottle@dailystar.co.uk

AN autistic uni lecturer a boss described as “mad as a box of frogs” has won a discrimina­tion claim.

Elizabeth Aylott raised concerns after feeling “overloaded” and suffering panic attacks as she did up to 60 hours a week.

A hearing was told there was a “long hours” culture at BPP University.

But manager Juliette Wagner dismissed her concerns and said she was as “mad as a box of frogs but a good worker”.

Judge Timothy Adkin ruled the comment “inappropri­ate and unprofessi­onal”.

The hearing was told Mrs Aylott, who specialise­s in HR and employment law, was also driven to drink by her treatment at the private London university.

She admitted drinking three glasses of wine to help her “stop work and sleep” and was later having “four to five gin and tonics

THESE notso-wise owls are proof that if you overdo your night out, you’re gurner regret it.

The nocturnal birds were snapped looking dazed, confused or simply too sleepy in the morning light to give a real hoot. a night to self-medicate”. She asked another boss, Steven Shaw, to have her referred to a medical profession­al. But he brushed off her stress as just “her perception” and considered long hours “normal”.

The London Central Employment Tribunal was told Mrs Aylott’s autistic spectrum disorder was undiagnose­d until after she resigned aged 50, having been signed off with depression and anxiety.

She said: “I believe I was treated differentl­y as my issue was a mental health issue. I was relying on alcohol to support me.”

The judge criticised the university for its “surprising” failure to help its employee.

Mrs Aylott, who sued for disability discrimina­tion and constructi­ve unfair dismissal, will be given damages next month.

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