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Mum sacked from Marks & Spencer job 'for taking too many sick days'

A mum has accused Marks & Spencer of sacking her for taking too much time off work while she was ill.

Natalie Dalziel, 28, had worked as a permanent part-time staff member at one of the British retail giant's stores in Newcastle, UK since 2016.

However, she claims that just before Christmas she was sacked after being off work with a sickness bug, a trapped nerve and dental issues over an eight-month period, Stoke-on-Trent Live reports.

Now, Ms Dalziel, from Biddulph, has lost her appeal in a last-ditch attempt to be reinstated.

“I was first off sick when I went into work and vomited. The toilets were out of order and I threw up in the sink,” she told the publication.

Pictured is Natalie Dalziel, 28, who had worked at the retail giant's Wolstanton store in Newcastle, UK, since 2016. Source: Australscope
Natalie Dalziel, 28, had worked at the retail giant's Wolstanton store in Newcastle, UK, since 2016. Source: Australscope

“My next sick day was when I got a trapped nerve in my leg. I did everything I could to get back to work – and even bought new footwear and leg supports.

“I couldn’t bear the pain so I worked in the Foodhall where I could sit down a little. I got a formal warning for having time off."

Ms Dalziel says she then had 13 dental appointments after root canal surgery left her in excruciating pain. She had a total of nine days off sick with her teeth and received a sick note from her doctor.

“I was having trouble with my teeth and had to have root canal surgery. But the dentist wasn't able to get the whole tooth out so I had to keep going back while on strong painkillers. I wasn’t able to drive,” she said.

The mum said losing her job at Marks & Spencer (M&S) has left her with severe anxiety.

“I was heartbroken to lose my job. I couldn’t drive home I was crying that much. I cried for two hours on the car park before I could drive home.

“I have a seven-year-old boy who I need to provide for and I’ve been so down with the money situation.

The retail giant's Wolstanton store in Newcastle. Source: GoogleMaps
The retail giant's Wolstanton store in Newcastle. Source: GoogleMaps

“I’ve always worked hard and feel like I’ve been kicked in the teeth. I appealed the decision and lost that,” she said, adding that she will no longer be able to use M&S as a reference on future job applications.

M&S carried out an investigation after Natalie lodged her appeal.

"During a meeting you raised you were feeling discriminated against, and that you did not believe your dismissal to be fair when your absences were genuine,” M&S wrote in a letter to Ms Dalziel.

"I have investigated the absence review meetings and the outcome letters sent to you and I am satisfied that the M&S absence policy has been followed and no discrimination has taken place. Therefore, I do not uphold this point of your appeal."

M&S says it cannot 'discuss individual cases'.

“Protecting the welfare of our colleagues is our utmost priority. We have robust policies in place and any review of employee contracts is done within these procedure,” a spokesman said.

Australscope

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