Crash woman loses job for taking too long off
INJURED MOTORCYCLIST APPEALS AGAINST HER DISMISSAL BY M&S
A MOTORCYCLIST who ended up on crutches for more than two months after being hit by a careless driver has now lost her job.
Natalie Jane Ward was told by bosses Marks & Spencer’s distribution warehouse, in Castle Donington, that they didn’t believe the injuries she suffered had a “long term and detrimental effect” on her health.
The 22-year-old was left with whiplash and ligament damage in her left leg after being sent sprawling on the car’s bonnet in the incident on the A6 bypass at Thulston, in Derby, in June.
Her horrified mother went to the scene to find Miss Ward lying injured in the road. Her £4,000 motorbike was written off.
Miss Ward’s injuries meant that she was unable to work at Marks & Spencer’s distribution warehouse in Castle Donington and was off work for 14 weeks.
Now, the 22-year-old, who has been working in the warehouse for four years, said she has been dismissed from her job for “continued high levels of absence”.
She said: “I was involved in a road traffic collision and I’ve lost my job.
“I’ve suffered mentally, physically and financially because of it.”
Miss Ward said she has appealed against the company’s decision to dismiss her and she is waiting to hear back from M&S.
The company is carrying out an investigation into the case.
She said: “I doubt I’ll get my job back. We had an attendance review meeting in September but I felt like I had no support whatsoever.”
Miss Ward said that after returning to work in September for a few days on reduced hour shifts, she was escorted out of the building and her belongings were brought out to her from inside.
She said: “I was shocked. They know I’m a hard worker.”
Miss Ward claims the decision is unfair and said that she kept the company updated on her recovery every two weeks by providing them with sick notes.
In a letter addressed to Miss Ward, the team manager for M&S Castle Donington wrote that they have considered the underlying ill health criteria and believe that she didn’t meet the conditions for any occasions of absence.
They wrote: “I believe they do not have a long term and detrimental effect on your health.”
When contacted, an M&S spokesperson said: “We are committed to protecting the welfare of our staff and have robust policies in place for the review of employee contracts.
“While we are unable to discuss individual cases, we can confirm official protocol has been followed.”
Miss Ward, who lives in Derby, added: “I took most of the impact. I suffered from ligament damage, I’ve still got whiplash and pains in my shoulder. I have no other form of transport to get out like I used to.”
The motorist, Joshua Steadman, (22), admitted driving without due care and attention at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court and was banned from driving for six months.