{"id":372366,"date":"2025-08-25T13:08:18","date_gmt":"2025-08-25T13:08:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/372366\/"},"modified":"2025-08-25T13:08:18","modified_gmt":"2025-08-25T13:08:18","slug":"mod-worker-sues-after-colleagues-fail-to-give-him-good-luck-card-when-leaving-his-job","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/372366\/","title":{"rendered":"MoD worker sues after colleagues fail to give him ‘good luck card’ when leaving his job"},"content":{"rendered":"

By KATHERINE LAWTON, NEWS REPORTER<\/a> <\/p>\n

Published: 07:00 EDT, 25 August 2025 | Updated: 07:19 EDT, 25 August 2025 <\/p>\n

A Ministry of Defence worker at NATO<\/a> headquarters sued for harassment after he wasn’t given a ‘good luck’ card when leaving his job.\u00a0<\/p>\n

James Eyles was ‘upset’ not to have his time on the base formally marked, an employment tribunal heard.<\/p>\n

The accommodation stores manager claimed he had been targeted because of his disabilities – which included PTSD, depression<\/a>, anxiety and paranoia.<\/p>\n

However, the panel dismissed his claim, ruling that being given a card by colleagues was ‘discretionary’ and that he wasn’t the only one on his team not to have his departure recognised.<\/p>\n

The hearing, held in Cambridge<\/a>, heard Mr Eyles began working for the MoD in March 2020, managing their accommodation stores at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Mons, Belgium.<\/p>\n

During this role, he was primarily responsible for providing furniture and soft furnishings to British MoD and NATO families and staff.<\/p>\n

Mr Eyles was also responsible for the team based at Sennelager in Germany, but in May 2021 they were transferred to another manager in a different department.<\/p>\n

This was part of a wider restructure, the hearing was told.<\/p>\n

\"James <\/p>\n

James Eyles\u00a0began working for the MoD in March 2020, managing their accommodation stores at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (pictured)\u00a0 in Mons, Belgium\u00a0<\/p>\n

Mr Eyles told the tribunal this was a ‘demotion’, and after their removal from his management he was restricted to ‘menial tasks’ – motivated by knowledge of his disabilities.<\/p>\n

He claimed that in October 2021 his boss ‘belittled and scolded’ him, telling him that he was ‘incompetent’ following a mix up over some furniture.<\/p>\n

In December, the MoD became aware of his PTSD, depression, anxiety, and paranoia,\u00a0the tribunal found.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In September 2022 he was told that his request for his tour to be extended by two years would not be granted.<\/p>\n

He was told in an email that the reason for this was due to a ‘review’ of the department’s structure which resulted in posts not being extended.<\/p>\n

In November 2022, he was rejected from a position as a housing manager and in March 2023 an offer for a role as the repair department manager at Sennelager was withdrawn.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When his tour ended in July 2023, Mr Eyles was not given a ‘good luck’ card or presentation which he claimed amounted to disability harassment.<\/p>\n

‘[The MoD] accepts that when [he] left on 16 July 2023 he was not presented with a Good Luck card or presentation,’ Employment Judge Kate Hutchings said.<\/p>\n

\"The <\/p>\n

The Ministry of Defence worker sued for harassment after he wasn’t given a ‘good luck’ card when leaving his job (Stock photo)\u00a0<\/p>\n

‘[He] did not challenge the [MoD’s] evidence that not everyone had a presentation or received a good luck card when they left.<\/p>\n

‘Indeed, [another colleague] told us she did not get a presentation or card when she left her post in July 2024.<\/p>\n

‘Subjectively this was unwanted conduct as [he] was upset that his departure was not formally recognised.<\/p>\n

‘There is no evidence the reason he did not receive a card or presentation was due to his disabilities. His line managers were off sick at this time so could not organise.<\/p>\n

‘In any event, it was discretionary for colleagues to arrange this. For these reasons, we conclude that this complaint of harassment related to disability fails.’<\/p>\n

Overall, the tribunal concluded that none of Mr Eyles’ claims were well-founded and many of them did not happen at all.<\/p>\n

He still works for the MoD.<\/p>\n

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