An employment tribunal judge delivered a verdict in favor of a woman who was fired from her job at an ambulance trust after her wife assaulted her boss. The judge issued a critical two-word summary of the case while ruling in the woman’s favor.
Stacey Smith, a former employee of the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS), was sentenced to 25 years in October 2024 for attempting to kill her and her wife Paula Smith’s boss, Michala Morton, in November of the previous year during a dispute over work schedules.
The tribunal found that Paula was unjustly treated by her employers when she was dismissed due to her connection to her wife. Paula, who was arrested for alleged harassment and threats against the manager, was later cleared of any charges. Despite her lack of involvement in the attack and her separation from Stacey, Paula was terminated from her job three weeks after the police investigation was closed.
Following a hearing on April 19, 2024, Paula received a dismissal letter dated April 25, 2024, citing her association with someone charged with attempted murder as the reason for her termination. However, a recent judgment determined that the 56-year-old was unfairly dismissed, entitling her to a £14,000 payout.
Employment Judge Paul Holmes emphasized that Paula’s only connection to the incident was her marriage to Stacey Smith, questioning the significance of this association. The judge highlighted that the public and patients were unlikely to link Paula to any risk based on her relationship with the perpetrator. Judge Holmes criticized the trust for overly focusing on Paula’s arrest and bail conditions, which had not received public attention.
In conclusion, the tribunal’s decision underscored the lack of relevance of Paula’s association with the perpetrator in the context of her employment, ultimately ruling in her favor.
