They also describe as ‘cumbersome’ and ‘overly bureaucratic’ a process which failed to make clear the procedure for sickness benefit to employees.
The board convened in October to hear the case of Christopher Fritot, who injured his shoulder during a control and restraint training course organised by the Prison on 27 April 2002.
Mr Fritot’s injury caused him considerable pain over the next three years and eventually resulted in his being declared medically unfit for work.
But when he exhausted his entitlement to sick pay in July 2005, he was left living on 50 per cent disability allowance from the Social Services department, and no pay from his employer.
At the hearing, the Home Affairs Committee, represented by Steven Austin-Vautier and president Senator Wendy Kinnard, argued that they had been sympathetic to Mr Fritot, even extending his entitlement to half pay for four months.
They said that they had fully abided by the Prison’s rules and regulations relating to sick pay entitlement, and said Mr Fritot had been given the opportunity to resign from his position and seek further employment now that his pay was exhausted.
Mr Fritot, represented by Grouville Constable Dan Murphy, said that he had suffered considerable discomfort since his injury, which was exacerbated by doctors’ failure to diagnose the problem.
He had visited a specialist in the UK at his own expense and he felt that as he injured himself at work, a significant financial redress was appropriate.
