Jeanette Findlay and Glasgow University reach settlement

Professor Findlay took the university to a tribunal on sex discrimination grounds, with an employment judge finding against her though urging the school to review its procedures for helping staff to advance in their careers.

An appeal was due to be heard later this year, but the matter has now been settled.

Read More:

The University of Glasgow said: “A mutually acceptable agreement has been reached between the University and Professor Findlay in respect of an Employment Appeal Tribunal hearing scheduled to take place on 25 February, 2025.

“This settles any matters that would have been considered by the EAT.

“This has been a long-running process for all those involved, and we are pleased to be able to resolve matters without recourse to any further proceedings.

“A long-standing member of the academic community at the university, Professor Findlay has, alongside her comprehensive academic achievements, been a senior and valued UCU representative.

“Professor Findlay accepts that the original employment tribunal did not find in her favour. However, her intention was always to improve university processes in the interests of women colleagues and both she and the university are happy that the recommendations made by the employment tribunal in 2022 are currently the subject of consideration by the university.

“It is a matter of regret for both parties that a solution was not found earlier but a mutually acceptable way forward has been agreed resulting in Professor Findlay withdrawing her appeal.

“Professor Findlay, who has served more than 37 years as a member of staff, will leave her post on March 31, 2025.

“She will, after her retirement, hold the title Professor Emirita.”

While the panel rejected her claim of sex discrimination at an employment tribunal held last August, the university was advised by them to review its mentoring, career development and academic promotion policies.

The tribunal was told that as of January 2020, there had never been a woman promoted to a Chair in Economics at Glasgow University in the entire history of the university from its foundation in 1451.

Professor Findlay lodged an official complaint about the conduct of the judge at her original tribunal, accusing him of “insulting an inappropriate comments”.

The academic represented herself at the hearing, with the judgement noting “she is not the average unrepresented party litigant whom the Tribunals come across daily”.

Professor Findlay said: “Is the suggestion here that I earn enough to pay for representation and therefore I should not be annoying this particular judge with my (clearly in his view) inadequate attempts to put my own case?”.

The judgement  also appeared to suggest that she was exaggerating a hearing impairment, Professor Findlay said.

It stated: “‘While she referred to a hearing impairment, and we took that into account by way of reasonable adjustments made for her, the claimant appeared to play to the public gallery, at certain points, particularly when giving her closing submission to the Tribunal.”

Prof Findlay said she has made a formal complaint related to the conduct of Judge G Ian McPherson and the two non-legal members, Mr Frew and Mrs Anderson.

Image Credits and Reference: https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/24854177.jeanette-findlay-glasgow-university-reach-settlement/?ref=rss