Stockton Heath funeral director loses case (From Warrington Guardian)

Stockton Heath funeral director loses case

4:50pm Monday 1st February 2010

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A FATHER of two has failed in his attempt of claiming unfair dismissal after alleging he was forced to resign as a funeral director when his boss found out his wife worked for a rival firm and ‘spied’ on her.

John Ashcroft, who formerly worked at Maddocks, Stockton Heath, told an employment tribunal in Liverpool that a memo telling him he would be moving offices was sent out the day after Charles Craven, found out his wife, Maureen, worked for competitors Houghtons.

Mr Ashcroft, who lives in Northwich, was given three days notice in May 2009 to make child care arrangements for the move from the London Road office to Liverpool which Mr Ashcroft claimed Mr Craven knew would cause problems.

He said: “I felt stressed and victimised and felt I had no option but to resign.”

Mr Ashcoft said his relationship with his boss deteriorated after he made a statement during his wife’s sex discrimination claim against Mr Craven in 2005.

He added that it had left a ‘black mark’ against his name and led to ‘petty snipes and petulant behaviour’ from Mr Craven.

Mr Craven denied the allegations, telling the hearing on Wednesday that he moved Mr Ashcroft as the Liverpool branch was getting busier and he had worked in the area previously.

He described the spying allegations as ‘ridiculous’ adding that he had found out that Maureen Ashcroft worked at Houghtons after he had sent out the memo and was fixing the seat of his car rather than spying on the shop to see if she worked there.

Mr Craven said: “It did concern me that John’s wife was working for a direct competitor that was in close proximity to one of our branches.

“I didn’t want to discuss plans about marketing or advertising with John for him to then tell his wife and it get passed on to Houghtons.

“However I found out Maureen worked there after I had sent the memo telling John he would be moving.”

Joanne Woodward, representing Mr Craven, suggested that the month Mr Ashcroft had on paid sick leave would have given him enough time to adjust to the move.

Mr Craven also pointed out that funeral directors had company cars which covers travel expenses.

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