MoD employee takes colleagues to court over lack of ‘good luck’ card

James Eyles, an accommodation stores manager, claimed he was targeted due to his disabilities.

Mr Eyles - who has PTSD, depression, anxiety and paranoia - was “upset” that his time was not formally marked, an employment tribunal heard.

The panel ruled that receiving a card was “discretionary”, and said that he was not the only one whose departure went unreconisied, dismissing Mr Eyles claim.

Employment Judge Kate Hutchings said that there was no evidence to suggest the lack of farewell traditions was due to his disabilities, instead stating that his line managers absence, due to illness, meant they “could not organise”.

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Held in Cambirdge, the hearing heard that Mr Eyles first began working at the MoD in March 2020. His role included managing accommodation stores at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, located in Mons, Belgium.

During this position, Mr Eyles was primarily responsible for provision of soft furnishings and furniture to families and staff of Nato and the British MoD.

For a period, Mr Eyles was also responsible for the team based at Sennelager in Germany. In May 2021, they were transferred to another manager in another department, apparently as part of a wider restructure.

Mr Eyles said the change was a “demotion”and he was restricted to “menial tasks” after his removal from management. He claims this was motivated by knowledge of his disabilities.

In October 2021, he claimed that his boss called him “incompetent” and “belittled and scolded” him after a furniture mix-up.

Two months later, in December, the MoD were made aware of Mr Eyles disabilities, the tribunal heard.

In September 2022, a request to extend his tour for two years was not granted. The MoD cited a department structure review as the reason.

In November, he was also rejected from a housing manager position, and an offer as repair department manager at Sennelager was withdrawn in the following March.

The end of his tour, in the March of 2023, was when Mr Eyles stated the lack of goodbye presentation and card occurred.

The tribunal concluded that his claims were unfounded and many did not occur.