Tribunal decides in favour of disabled Bannatyne Health Club fitness instructor Peter Williams

A FITNESS adviser at a Tamworth health club who was born with no arms has won compensation claims for disability discrimination and victimisation.

Thalidomide victim Peter Williams, of Bitterscote, is still employed at Bannatyne Health Club and Spa and was responsible for planning fitness programmes.

But Birmingham Employment Tribunal heard that the centre had failed to make reasonable adjustments to help him with his disability while doing his job.

Mr Williams alleged that his hours were reduced, while other fitness advisers were not affected, and that he was accused of not being a "team player". He said that his pigeon hole which normally contained messages had been "bunged up" and that he was banned from the club.

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Mr Williams also said that the firm did not deal with his complaints and declined to hold a grievance hearing on the club site so he could show the company the physical problems he was having.

He said when he returned to the club after being off work for four months there was no work for him.

The respondents denied they failed to help him with his disability and said he had been a valued employee.

The firm also denied Mr Williams had been banned from the club and said he had not been victimised.

Tribunal judge Ron Hutchinson said, however, that the tribunal decision was that Mr Williams' compensation claims had been successful. He described Mr Williams as a truthful witness and said the tribunal believed he had been banned from the club, which was victimisation.

"The management did not deal with Mr Williams' complaints appropriately while other fitness advisers did not have their hours reduced," said Mr Hutchinson.

"He was accused of not being a team player which the tribunal believe was derogatory."

Mr O'Brien, representing Mr Williams, and the respondents are to decide between them, at Mr Hutchinson's suggestion, what compensation should be paid.