Can an employer refuse someone an internal interview for a job promotion if they have had sick leave?
Simon, I am going to go against the flow of answers to say that you might have been discriminated against. If your condition has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities, then you have a right to expect your employer to make ‘reasonable adjustments’. The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) provides for that in the UK. That might be a special chair, or more frequent breaks, or not excluding you because of your absence record. Ask your GP or consultant if they consider that you are protected by the DDA. Frankly, excluding anyone for 6 days off is decidedly dodgy. Is it a published policy, this ‘rule’ they say prevented you being considered? If you complied with your employer’s rules over the absence then I would suggest you raise a formal grievance. Say you think it is unfair to exclude you for an arbitrary and potentially discriminatory reason. [if you were a pregnant female you’d have an immediate case, as women have more abse
