KPMG forced to pay £45,000 in discrimination case
Employment tribunal judge finds claim by dyslexic former KPMG employee for unlawful discrimination is well founded.
KPMG has been ordered to pay £45,435.06 at an employment tribunal over its
handling of a disability case.
The Big Four firm let trainee Dhrupa Bid go after she twice failed the
ICAEW’s computer-based qualifying exams, as she was unaware of her dyslexia.
The firm has a strict rule that anyone failing their qualifying exams twice
will not be permitted to continue employment.
Bid failed her first exam and was given permission by the firm to defer her
retake so that a dyslexia assessment could be obtained from the ICAEW. She was
warned by the firm if she failed she would have to be dismissed.
Previously Bid had passed exams, taken in paper format, with marks higher
than 80% but was astounded to find her marks dropping to 40% when taken on
computer.
She re-sat her exams in November 2008 and failed, only finding out afterwards
that she did suffer from dyslexia and should have been provided an extension on
time and given a paper exam.
The defending solicitor, John Mackenzie, said: “As she is disabled she should
have been allowed to take the exam again.”
Adding: “They knew if she were to take the exam on paper she would pass, as
previously she was getting 88% pass marks.”
The judge presiding said “The claimant’s claim for unlawful discrimination on
the grounds of disability based on the respondent’s failure to make reasonable
adjustments is well founded.”
The firm was ordered to pay; £12,000 for injury to feelings; £8,528.92 for
loss of earnings up to the hearing; £24,906.14 for future losses; including
£311.85 interest on injury to feelings; and £102.96 interest on compensation.
Bid has since been forced to return to Kenya as she no longer holds a work
visa.
Resources & Whitepapers
Accounting Software The power of customisation in accounting systems
A spokesman for KPMG said: “KPMG believes it acted properly and fairly at all
times and did what was required of a responsible employer in supporting Ms Bid
once the probability of her having dyslexia was made known to us.”
The firm said it will study the case further before deciding on whether or
not to appeal.
Further reading:
PwC, KPMG Iceland offices raided over banking collapse