Council ordered to pay job applicant almost 3,000 in compensation over hurt feelings

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"A town council has been ordered to pay almost 3,000 compensation to a job applicant for injury to his feelings'. An employment tribunal judge found Lymington and Pennington Town Council, in Hampshire, had indirectly discriminated against when he applied for the role of town clerk in March 2024. The judge said the council's job posting, specifying that applicants should have 10 years' managerial experience, a relevant degree and a Certificate in Local Council Administration, had been discriminatory towards Mr Sheehy."

"At the time of his application, 29-year-old Mr Sheehy had a total of seven years' experience as town clerk for Witham, Dunmow and Christchurch councils, and held the necessary certificate, but he did not have a relevant degree. In a phone call to the retiring town clerk on March 1, 2024, Mr Sheehy claimed it was unfair to ask for 10 years' experience even though that had been one of the criteria for the role for over 10 years."

The Independent covers topics including reproductive rights, climate change and Big Tech, investigates financials such as Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC, and produced the documentary 'The A Word' about American women fighting for reproductive rights. The Independent asks for donations to fund reporters on the ground and maintains open access by avoiding paywalls, arguing that quality journalism should be available to everyone and paid for by those who can afford it. An employment tribunal ordered Lymington and Pennington Town Council to pay almost 3,000 in compensation after finding indirect discrimination in a town clerk job posting that required excessive qualifications; the applicant, 29-year-old Mr Sheehy, had seven years' relevant experience and the required certificate but lacked a relevant degree and was not shortlisted.

Read at www.independent.co.uk