Manageress sues BT over Neck April 22, 2009

A manager from BT is suing for up to £100,000 due to the fact that she blames her long working hours for giving her a curved neck. The main claim lies in the fact that her bosses refused to give her a desk.

Rachel Lowe is the BT manager from Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex, who claims her bosses left her with excruciating pain in her back. She also claims that she was forced to work 60 hours a week, leaving her mentally and physically ill.

Rachel Lowe was previously named as one of BT’s top workers of 2006, and claims she was victim of bullying for whistle-blowing. This bullying not only resulted in back problems and an extended workload, but often resulted in tears and anxiety attacks.

Companies including BT are legally obliged to provide a safe workplace, and Lowe claims that her health and safety was compromised all for the sake of refusing to give her a desk.

Lowes salary was £59,400 with a performance related bonus of £50,000. She previously negotiated one of the most important deals for the telecom company, worth up to £35million.

Lowe’s workload quickly increased after half of her six-man team left BT. She was relied upon as the only one with the necessary knowledge of the important contract. BT agreed to remove part of her workload, but this left her performance-related bonus compromised. Lowe voiced concerns over finances and her health, and told the tribunal she was ignored.

Rachel Lowe was assessed by a chiropractor who X-Rayed her and told her that her neck had become curved. The chiropractor also mentioned that bending over a laptop was a probably cause.

Not only this, but Lowe mentioned to her line manager of her extreme stress which was also ignored. Having to work late was making her increasingly tired. This is what lead Lowe to resign from her job in November 2008.

The hearing is ongoing.