A Belfast man has settled a case of alleged disability and age discrimination against his former employer, Fraser Partners Ltd, for £100,000.

Clifford Donaldson, who brought the case with the support of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, reached the settlement without any admission of liability by the company.

Mr Donaldson had worked for Fraser Partners Ltd as a site manager for over seven years. In January 2023, he suffered two strokes which affected his speech and movement. After a short period of sick leave, he returned to work on a phased basis and requested a reduction in his hours to 30 per week, with a proportionate reduction in salary.

In the summer of 2023, the company hired a new site manager who was younger than Mr Donaldson. He was then informed that his employment would end in September that year. Mr Donaldson alleged that he was told the new site manager would now oversee construction work across three housing sites.

He was later offered a potential consultancy role to begin after his employment ended, but he says the offer came with no guarantee of working hours or duration. He declined the position, and his employment formally ended in September 2023. Mr Donaldson said: "This has been a very difficult experience for me and my family. I was shocked to learn I was being replaced, and that my employment was ending. I wanted to continue working. It was an awful way to be treated after years of dedication to the business.

"I believe assumptions were made about my ability following my strokes. I needed some understanding. Instead, I felt abandoned, like I was only fit for the scrap heap because of my strokes and my age. I'm relieved the case is settled and I can move forward."

Geraldine McGahey, Chief Commissioner, Equality Commission for Northern Ireland added: "Employers must be aware that employees like Cliff who acquire a disability have protections under the Disability Discrimination Act.

"They simply cannot make assumptions about their employees' workplace capabilities. Instead, they must communicate clearly with employees to fully understand their needs.

"The law requires that reasonable adjustments must be considered and implemented where appropriate. It is vital that all staff, especially line managers, are fully informed of these obligations. 

"The Equality Commission provides expert advice and practical guidance to help employers develop effective policies and procedures. Making use of this support will help ensure compliance with Northern Ireland's equality laws and create a more inclusive workplace," concluded Ms McGahey.