A Sainsbury’s store manager who was excluded from a social media post has been awarded £12,000 for feeling left out. Darren Cooper, who was on leave due to anxiety, discovered that his regional director had posted a tribute for International Men’s Day, praising male leaders for their dedication and support at work. Not being included in the post made Cooper feel excluded, humiliated, and violated, as revealed in an employment tribunal in Cardiff.
Cooper, who joined Sainsbury’s in 1993 and managed the Pontypridd store in South Wales since 2010, took sick leave in July 2022. In November, his line manager, Matt Hourihan, honored male leaders on Yammer and LinkedIn for their contributions to the stores in South Wales, Gloucestershire, and Worcester.
Hourihan’s post highlighted the hard work of male leaders and their support for colleagues and customers, expressing gratitude for their dedication both at work and in their personal lives. However, the post did not include a photo or mention of Cooper, causing him additional distress and confusion among friends and colleagues.
Hourihan explained that he omitted Cooper from the post because Cooper had removed himself from contact lists and did not wish to be reached. Despite numerous discussions about Cooper’s return to work, he was eventually dismissed in June 2023, leading to a legal case involving claims of disability discrimination, harassment, and unfair treatment.
The tribunal concluded that Hourihan’s deliberate decision to exclude Cooper from the post due to his absence constituted unfavorable treatment linked to his disability. While claims of disability discrimination and unfair dismissal were rejected, Cooper was acknowledged to have suffered humiliation and harassment related to his disability. Subsequently, a compensation hearing awarded him £11,852, including £7,500 for emotional distress.
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