Glasgow Life Employers Dismissed Following Investigation

Five swimming centre managers have been dismissed after claims that staff were paid more overtime than colleagues at other sporting facilities. However, satff are set to take legal action citing unfair dismissal.

The dismissals come following a probe by Glasgow Life, Glasgow City Council, arms-length management organisation. The investigation found that 33% more overtime had been signed off at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre than any other Glasgow Life run site. The main issue was that the overtime was given when the pool was undergoing a £14-million refurbishment for the Commonwealth Games.

Internal Investigation

An investigation saw managers of the pool investigated with two other members of staff are still under investigation but it is understood they are currently on sick leave.

A source close to the investigation said: “one cluster manager, three assistant cluster managers and three duty officers” were investigated.

“Alarm bells started ringing when it became clear that 33% more overtime was authorised, compared to overtime signed off at other Glasgow Life sites.”

A spokesman for Glasgow Life said: “After a full investigation, a number of staff were subject to our disciplinary procedures. As some of these procedures remain ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further.”

Despite many staff losing their job as a result of the investigation, those who have lost their job have launched a legal challenge.

Legal Challenge

The staff at Tollcross have insisted that they overtime challenge is above their pay grade and that they were not in charge of signing off overtime, with all five staff stating that they were encouraged to put in longer hours. Staff stated that their overtime was to ensure that the Commonwealth Games were as successful as they could be.

A spokesman for the staff said: “There was pressure put on managers in relation to the Games and it was decided to man the centre to the maximum in order to provide the best Games they could.

“The overspend at Tollcross was excessive, however, it was decided a duty officer would be with every Commonwealth party doing tours of any works at Tollcross in order to make sure that they were well informed.

“It was also decided that an assistant cluster manager would be on shift at all times. Tollcross had an extremely busy schedule, only rivalled by the Emirates Arena. This hasn’t been taken into account.

“What they have done is effectively stopped the buck at the managers of the centre, yet they have allowed an overspend to happen. Now they are holding people responsible who are several pay grades below and who have no fiscal responsibility. It reeks. ”

The manager's claim that the 33% overspend should have been offset by a process known as “recharging” - when Glasgow Life bills a client for staffing costs.
.
“The appeals have happened and, although it was acknowledged at that stage that the investigator had a conflict of interest, it was deemed that they had been transparent.

“They have tried to cover their back from a tribunal point of view; however, the paperwork has been submitted and it will go to a tribunal. All five will go individually.”

The spokeswoman for the members of staff said that her clients had been made a scapegoat for Glasgow Life’s overspend and that although the investigation by Glasgow Life had been transparent, the investigation could have held an agenda. It is understood that the members of staff will have an employment tribunal individually.

Contact Us

If you believe you have been unfairly dismissed, you could make a legal claim via an employment tribunal. Contact us today using our online contact form.

Female Solicitors Suffer From Gender Pay Gap
Industrial Action to go Ahead at CalMac

Related Posts

Contact Us

Invalid Input
Invalid Input
Invalid Input
Invalid Input
What type of help do you need? Invalid Input

Pick tick to confirm you have read this.
Please check the recaptcha box to continue(*)
Please complete the reCaptcha. Thank you