Published: Wednesday, 9th July, 2008 12:00
Tribunal awards manager £11,000
By Hamish Hutchinson
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Jim Park, proprietor of Viewpoint Systems (Scotland) Ltd in Alva.
AN IT manager who quit after being subjected to relentless verbal abuse from his boss has been awarded more than £11,000 compensation.
Jason Frew (29) claimed that Jim Park, proprietor of Viewpoint Systems (Scotland) Ltd in Alva, subjected him to constant verbal abuse and harassment.
Mr Frew, who claimed he was constructively and unfairly dismissed, said Mr Park criticised his ability, loyalty and effectiveness.
He frequently swore at him often making comments such as, “Who the f*** do you think you are? I own the f****** company. I pay the f****** bills”.
The company, based in Alva Industrial Estate, was not represented at the Glasgow employment tribunal but denied the claims and suggested Mr Frew was underperforming.
However, the tribunal ruled in Mr Frew’s favour and now bosses at the call centre are mounting an appeal.
This isn’t the first time Viewpoint has appeared in court over the treatment of its employees.
Last month the Advertiser reported on Denise Asher (25), from Blairhall, Fife, who was awarded nearly £7000 after winning a sex discrimination claim against the company.
Her work had been praised yet she was dismissed two weeks later as she was ‘no longer suitable’ once the company found out she was pregnant.
And in April, Michelle Fraser (24), of Tullibody, was awarded £258.45 after Viewpoint failed to pay her holiday pay and wages she was due following her dismissal in October last year.
She worked at the call centre for almost a year, having been promoted to team leader, before bosses told her she was “unsuitable”.
And the Advertiser understands that a further employee took the company to a tribunal earlier this year.
Mr Frew, of Sauchie, resigned on 30 October last year, after 20 months with Viewpoint and now works as an IT manager at a call centre in Cumbernauld.
He told the tribunal, while at the company, chairman Jim Park set him unachievable deadlines then threatened him with dismissal when he failed to achieve them.
Mr Frew decided to resign but Mr Park talked him into staying with the offer of an increased salary of £36,000 and a future directorship. Mr Park’s conduct improved for a short time but then he reverted to his previous behaviour.
One of the “unachievable deadlines” claimed by Mr Frew was the installation of a 100 megabyte lease from Cable & Wireless.
He said, “I called in a couple of favours and tried to get it done in a short period of time. The actual deadline would have been February 2008 at the earliest but Jim wanted it as soon as humanly possible. Every day since I started the process, to the day I left, I was getting phone calls from Jim.
“If I came back with bad news or nothing had change, nothing had improved, it would be an absolute bawling match. That’s how it was all the time.”
The abuse reached the stage that Mr Frew feared for his health.
He went on, “I was having high blood pressure. I thought at one stage I was having a heart attack but the doctors said it was anxiety brought on by stress.
“I started to get chest pains every time I heard the phone ring. I didn’t want to have a heart attack prior to my 30th birthday so I decided to leave.”
He told the tribunal his pay for the month of October of £2185 was withheld by Viewpoint following his resignation.
Employment tribunal judge Nicol Hosie said, “Due to Mr Park’s behaviour Mr Frew had reached a stage where he could no longer reasonably be expected to put up with the way he was being treated and spoken to by him.’’
He was awarded £8525 compensation and a further £2185 for his October pay and a further £620 as he had not received a written statement of terms and conditions of employment within two months of commencing.
Mr Frew added, “It wasn’t all bad there. Jim took us all out for Christmas dinner and we were given very good bonuses – when it was good it was phenomenal.
“I’m disappointed that it had to go this far. If Jim had resolved the matter earlier he would have saved himself thousands of pounds, but the court made the right decision.”
A statement from Viewpoint Systems (Scotland) Ltd read, “We were not represented in court (at the tribunal). We did ask for a continuation but this was unfortunately refused. Our lawyers are looking at an appeal as we are unhappy with the ruling of the tribunal.”
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