This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/london/7219097.stm
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Win for disability rights woman | Win for disability rights woman |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A British woman has won the initial stages of a landmark legal case at the European Court of Justice which could give new rights to millions of carers. | A British woman has won the initial stages of a landmark legal case at the European Court of Justice which could give new rights to millions of carers. |
| The Advocate-General agreed that Sharon Coleman suffered "discrimination by association". | The Advocate-General agreed that Sharon Coleman suffered "discrimination by association". |
| The legal secretary claimed her former London employers Attridge Law described her as "lazy" for wanting time off to care for her disabled son. | |
| A panel of European judges will make a final ruling later this year. | A panel of European judges will make a final ruling later this year. |
| Voluntary redundancy | Voluntary redundancy |
| Ms Coleman says she was forced to leave her job in March 2005 because she was not allowed as much flexibility in her work as parents of other children. | Ms Coleman says she was forced to leave her job in March 2005 because she was not allowed as much flexibility in her work as parents of other children. |
| If her case is upheld by the full court, the verdict would effectively give new rights to millions of carers. | If her case is upheld by the full court, the verdict would effectively give new rights to millions of carers. |
| Making the ruling this week Poiares Maduro, a senior European lawyer, said that directly targeting a person with a particular characteristic was not the only way of discriminating against him or her. | Making the ruling this week Poiares Maduro, a senior European lawyer, said that directly targeting a person with a particular characteristic was not the only way of discriminating against him or her. |
| A robust conception of equality entails that these subtler forms of discrimination should also be caught by anti-discrimination legislation Advocate-General, Poiares Maduro | A robust conception of equality entails that these subtler forms of discrimination should also be caught by anti-discrimination legislation Advocate-General, Poiares Maduro |
| He said: "One way of undermining the dignity and autonomy of people... is to target not them, but third persons who are closely associated with them. | He said: "One way of undermining the dignity and autonomy of people... is to target not them, but third persons who are closely associated with them. |
| "A robust conception of equality entails that these subtler forms of discrimination should also be caught by anti-discrimination legislation." | "A robust conception of equality entails that these subtler forms of discrimination should also be caught by anti-discrimination legislation." |
| Ms Coleman was already working with the law firm when she gave birth to a disabled son in 2002. | Ms Coleman was already working with the law firm when she gave birth to a disabled son in 2002. |
| He suffers from serious respiratory problems, including apnoeic attacks - an involuntary halt to breathing. | He suffers from serious respiratory problems, including apnoeic attacks - an involuntary halt to breathing. |
| Huge implications | Huge implications |
| As primary carer, Ms Coleman wanted flexible working arrangements, but accepted voluntary redundancy and began a claim for constructive dismissal five months later. | As primary carer, Ms Coleman wanted flexible working arrangements, but accepted voluntary redundancy and began a claim for constructive dismissal five months later. |
| Ms Coleman said her manager had commented that her child was always sick, and had accused her of trying to use his condition to get out of work. | Ms Coleman said her manager had commented that her child was always sick, and had accused her of trying to use his condition to get out of work. |
| She said: "They knew about my son's problems because I took him into the office, but they wouldn't allow me to work flexibly to make it easier to look after him. | She said: "They knew about my son's problems because I took him into the office, but they wouldn't allow me to work flexibly to make it easier to look after him. |
| "Other members of staff were taking time off for hospital appointments or worked from home but my requests were always turned down." | "Other members of staff were taking time off for hospital appointments or worked from home but my requests were always turned down." |
| A spokeswoman for the Equality and Human Rights Commission said: "We are delighted for Sharon. This case will have huge implications for Britain's six million carers." | A spokeswoman for the Equality and Human Rights Commission said: "We are delighted for Sharon. This case will have huge implications for Britain's six million carers." |