Sick-pay change justified

In O'Dea v Bonart Ltd the employment tribunal held that an employer was justified in telling a disabled employee on sick leave that the guidelines in his contract of employment on sick pay did not apply and payment would be made at the management's discretion.

Over a three-year period up to December 1996, Mr O'Dea, who was registered disabled because of a leg injury suffered in a road accident, had taken 107 days' sickness leave.