Hair stylist forced to resign after brain tumour diagnosis wins case against employer
A hair stylist has won a case for unfair dismissal after she was forced to resign while waiting for surgery on a brain tumour.
Grace Geoghegan, 28, had been employed by a hair salon in Stockport, Greater Manchester, since 2017 and worked her way up to having regular clients.
But a shock brain tumour diagnosis meant she was signed off work in October 2022, and was prescribed medication to control her seizures.
In November she tried to return to work on a phased basis while awaiting surgery on the tumour (scheduled for the following year).
However, she was told she might not be able to work with her previous clients and was asked to provide a letter specifying that she would be safe to stand for long periods and work with scissors, clippers and chemicals.
But the note from her GP declaring her fit to work was ignored, and she says she was made to “feel like a burden” to the business.
Eventually, she felt she had no choice but to resign.
She sought advice from family, ACAS and the Brain Tumour Charity, before taking them to an employment tribunal, where she won her case for disability discrimination and unfair dismissal.
She told the hearing that her condition had stabilised with medication, and she had been declared fit to work but when this wasn’t accepted by the salon.
Grace said: “I knew…
