Gagged: 999 bully claims remain secret
A former firefighter, once named one of the country’s best trainees, has settled her claim against the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
It is understood Lynn Bell dropped her bullying and discrimination case against Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) after an out-of-court settlement including a controversial secrecy agreement.
She would be the latest public services worker bound by nondisclosure agreements and the use of NDAs has been increasingly questioned.
Last week, it emerged Police Scotland spent almost £900,000 on pay-offs to staff making discrimination claims over the past six years. They all had to sign NDAs.
Ms Bell – Strathclyde Fire Service’s Trainee of the Year in 2011 – who went on to become a crew manager at Cumbernauld fire station in Lanarkshire, had claimed bosses failed to act to protect her when she complained of being bullied.
The mother-of-three, who now heads up a charity that works with vulnerable adults and children, quit her crew manager job in 2018.
The employment tribunal was settled out-of-court and is believed to have seen the SFRS give Ms Bell a fivefigure sum.
NDAs, also known as gagging orders, have become increasingly controversial in recent years.
A probe into the SFRS shows they have used NDAs on former members of staff four time since 2016.
But the fire service has refused to say how much money it has paid out as part of the settlements.
The organisation said it would not reveal the total as it was considered “personal data”.
The body said: “It is important that our employees have confidence in our processes and that their personal data shall not be disclosed other than in connection with the purposes for which it was intended.
“It is essential that our employees/ former employees can be assured that the information they provide is treated appropriately so that their trust and confidence in SFRS is not undermined.”
Last month it was revealed the UK Government is to crack down on the use of workplace gagging clauses to cover up allegations of harassment, discrimination and assault.