McLaughlin v Property Management Services (NI) Limited [2024]

Background:

The claimant was employed as a Sales Assistant and promoted to Area Manager for the respondent. He was in that latter position from 2012 until he resigned in November 2020. In that role he had to carry out investigations in relation to disciplinary matters and grievances as they arose.

One such matter arose in August 2020 in which the claimant investigated writing that had been put on a whiteboard which had been described as rude. The General Manager, the claimant’s line manager, was unhappy with the investigation that was carried out by the claimant. He described it as ‘inadequate’ and he informed the claimant by email that another member of staff was then tasked with carrying