A tribunal against Perth College UHI is taking place in Dundee after a former member of staff claimed she was treated unfairly.
Ms Pauline Stevenson has taken her former employer to a tribunal, claiming that that she “suffered less favourable treatment and/or dismissal as a fixed term employee” than she would have had she been on a permanent contract.
During the evidence proceedings, the presiding tribunal judge Nicol Hosie acknowledged the complexities of the case and said that he had only come across one other similar case in his time as an employment judge.
Ms Stevenson was a “fixed term” employee at the college and taught at the institution’s science department across various qualification levels between 2013 and 2015.
Perth College UHI employ a proportion of their workforce on a “fixed term” contract, which means that employees on these contracts are not given permanent positions at the institution.
Ms Stevenson had taken out a grievance against the college while still employed, in a dispute over working hours and payment.
During the course of proceedings, the college argued that employing some members of staff on a fixed term basis allowed the college to be flexible against the ever changing demands of higher education.
The hearing was told that Ms Stevenson’s professional performance had never concerned fellow colleagues at the college, with one witness saying that the level of her work was always to a high standard, regardless of her fixed term status at the college.
When asked to describe whether or not Ms Stevenson was a lecturer whose performance at work was what was expected as a “fixed term” employee, Dr Andrew Scott said: “Pauline is great, I would always liked to have given her more work.”
Giving evidence in defence of the college’s decision to discontinue Ms Stevenson’s employment, Susan Bald – vice principal and head of human resources and communications – said Ms Stevenson did not display the “values” the college expected.
She said Ms Stevenson had exhibited behaviour that resulted in another colleague stepping down from their role, after an issue arose over career development.
“Ms Stevenson is ambitious only for herself,” she said.
“Ms Stevenson has no integrity and I don’t believe that she was collegiate.”
Ms Bald explained that integrity was one of the values that Perth College always wished to embody.
Asked under cross examination whether Ms Stevenson’s contract was not renewed due to her raising a grievance with the college, Ms Bald replied “no”.
The tribunal continues, with submissions being entered for consideration on June 3 2016.
