BA flight attendant wins discrimination case

A veteran BA flight attendant wins a discrimination case after being dismissed for not flying due to anxiety and depression developed during the pandemic.

BA flight attendant sacked for being too anxious to fly wins discrimination case

Jennifer Clifford served BA for nearly four decades before her dispute with the carrier. During the pandemic she was furloughed and later moved to ground duties. By late 2022 she remained unable to fly because of anxiety and depression and the tribunal heard she was ultimately dismissed. The judge found that BA should have explored a phased ground-based return or redeployment instead of immediate dismissal.

The trial also noted a comment by a BA manager that Clifford had only a minor anxiety problem, a remark that was seen as minimizing her disability. Clifford left the company in December 2022 after the plan to stay on ground duties did not materialize into a sustainable path back to flying. The tribunal upheld her disability discrimination claim while rejecting the sex discrimination allegation.

The verdict spotlights how large employers handle mental health in demanding roles. It underlines the duty to offer reasonable adjustments and to consider redeployment when flying is not possible. For the aviation sector, the ruling may push HR teams to design clearer phased-return options and to treat long service as an obligation to adapt rather than a shield for rigid schedules. The decision also highlights the power of precise language about health conditions, since casual wording can deepen harm and fuel legal challenges.

Beyond one case, this could influence how workplaces navigate post pandemic backlogs, staff shortages and the pressure to keep operations running while protecting employees who face mental health barriers.

Highlights

The case is a reminder that dignity at work must come with real options, not excuses.