Nurse fired over racist jibes wins £5k for ‘unfair process’

AN employment tribunal has awarded a nurse £5,000, despite ruling she was lawfully sacked for making racist comments about Nigerian colleagues, because the dismissal and appeal procedures used were judged to be unfair.

Susan Brannan, 67, allegedly complained she was “the only white person” on her ward, after an influx of Nigerian nurses at the Gardens, a mental health unit in Grimsby, Lincs.

It was claimed that while browsing the staff rota, she asked a black colleague: “Have you come to play spot the white person?”, adding: “Have you seen this... I’m the only white person on?” the employment tribunal heard.

Ms Brannan claimed she was fired because she made complaints about the other nurses, regarding their alleged lack of punctuality, falling asleep on the job and force-feeding patients. The tribunal, held in Nottingham, heard that in March 2019 new nurses arrived at the ward from Nigeria.

Six months later, Ms Brannan filled in a staff feedback form on which she condemned a “culture of victimisation against staff who complain”.

Shortly after this, two staff members complained that Ms Brannan’s “disgraceful” attitude made them feel “very uncomfortable”. She was sacked two months later.

The tribunal ruled she was fairly sacked for making racist comments, but the dismissal and appeal procedure was not fair. Her compensation of £5,387.25 was a reduced amount as a result.

Employment judge Rachel Broughton said: “Her language and attitude became divisive and her resentment... negatively affected her perception of the new nurses and this was exhibited in the ‘them and us’ language she was using.”