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| Britain |
| Army faces £100,000 payout after tribunal backs single mother who went AWOL over childcare |
| 2010-04-13 |
| Army chiefs face the nightmare prospect of having to consider their soldiers' childcare problems before giving them orders. The devastating blow follows a successful sex discrimination claim brought by a single mother. Tilern DeBique, 28, says she was forced to leave the Army because she was expected to be available for duty around the clock. She was formally disciplined when she failed to appear on parade because she had to look after her daughter. She was told the Army was a 'war-fighting machine' and 'unsuitable for a single mother who couldn't sort out her childcare arrangements'. Now she is in line for a payout of at least £100,000 for loss of earnings, injury to feelings and aggravated damages. The case could have massive implications if other recruits argue that their childcare rights must be considered. Tory politician Patrick Mercer, a former Army officer, warned last night: 'The defence budget is already hugely overstrained. If specialist childcare arrangements have to be made for every soldier who doesn't have an extended family to help, it will be cripplingly expensive.' Fellow Tory Ann Widdecombe said: 'If you are in the Army, you must be available for duty. The idea that someone can sue for sex discrimination is simply ludicrous. As for a £100,000 payout, that is just turning a grievance into a lottery win.' Miss DeBique also won a claim of race discrimination because Army chiefs did not let her bring her half-sister from the Caribbean to look after the child. The former corporal, whose daughter is now four, told the Central London Employment Tribunal that British soldiers could rely on their families for childcare, but her relatives were all on her home island of St Vincent, where she was recruited. This second victory raises serious questions about the Army's ability to recruit from Commonwealth countries if it will be held responsible for soldiers' childcare arrangements. |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #2 The MoD is down on creative grounds cleanup. You cannot make fun out of work. Here is a video of two soldiers that got caught in the act. Sorry about the audio, but this video was taken on the QT. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul in Chilliwack, BC 2010-04-13 20:47 |
| #1 Where can I go to enlist so I can claim my damages? |
| Posted by: gorb 2010-04-13 15:03 |