O2 sales advisor settles disability case for £160,000

A sales advisor has settled a disability discrimination case against his former employer for £160,000.

Eamon Bowen took the case against his former employer Telefónica Ltd and was supported by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.

The case was settled with no admission of liability.

O2 – the trading name of Telefónica Ltd in the UK – said it had apologised to Mr Bowen and that it was “pleased to have mutually reached a settlement”.

Mr Bowen worked in an O2 shop for a number of years and was diagnosed with spondylolisthesis, a degenerative disc disease, in 2014.

The condition caused chronic pain, exhaustion, sleep and mobility issues which meant Mr Bowen had to take periods of sick leave.

He worked from home during the pandemic.

He returned to work in-store in June 2020 but his illness made his job difficult.

Mr Bowen was referred to occupational health who made recommendations aimed at helping him manage his job.

He said the recommendations were not implemented appropriately and he felt he had no option but to resign.

Mr Bowen left his job in November 2021.

“I only ever wanted someone to take me seriously and when I landed with the Equality Commission they really did,” he said.

Mr Bowen said the settlement highlights the importance of taking disabilities seriously.

“I enjoyed my work, I loved my work, loved working,” he added. “I stepped away from the role with a massive amount of regret – if the processes had been followed I would absolutely be in employment still.”