Partner Article

Grainger settles dispute

This article has been amended since its original publication date. On 21/04/10 we wrongly stated that Mr Nicholson received £100,000 from Grainger plc. As stated below, the actually figure was £55,000 - consisting of £42,200 plus a small contribution of £12,800 towards his legal costs.

NEWCASTLE-based property giant Grainger has made a £55,000 out-of-court settlement to a former employee who claims to have been made redundant because of his green beliefs.

The UK’s biggest residential landlord settled its dispute with Tim Nicholson, 42, who was made redundant in July 2008 from his £77,000-a-year post as head of sustainability at the plc.

He was preparing to sue his former employer for £756,615 in compensation alleging that his redundancy was a direct result of his green opinions about the dangers of climate change - which put him at odds with other senior executives within the firm.

His claim was made up of up of £587,925 for loss of earnings, £141,080 for loss of pension rights and £20,000 for injury to feelings.

Grainger ultimately settled the dispute by paying out £42,200, plus £12,800 as a contribution to his legal fees.

Mr Nicholson eaccused executives of failing to live up to their own green policies to cut emissions of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, saying they drove “the most polluting cars on the road”.

At a preparatory hearing last year, a judge ruled that his belief in climate change was legally akin to a religious belief and should be protected from discrimination.

Mr Nicholson, who worked in the firm’s office in Putney, South West London, then accepted an out-of-court settlement on the eve of a 10-day tribunal in London.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .