A decision to give three firefighters, including a watch manager, written warnings for deliberately damaging a colleague’s property has been criticised as a “slap on the wrist”. Former Avon Fire Authority (AFA) chairman Cllr Don Davies told councillors that the sanctions over the incident at the unnamed fire station felt unduly lenient and that the senior male employee would probably have been sacked in the private sector.
The incident was revealed in an annual report outlining formal disciplinary cases, grievances and employment tribunals involving Avon Fire & Rescue Service (AFRS) from April 2021 to March this year. Head of human resources Karen Shiel told AFA people & culture committee that one grievance was raised compared with five over the previous 12 months.
She said: “That’s a female operational member of staff who claims bullying and harassment both individually on her watch but also a wider culture of sexism and inappropriate behaviour. This case is still ongoing and there is an employment tribunal pending, so it will be very difficult to answer any questions on that case.
