Royal Navy officer wins court battle

An MoD spokesman said it was too early to comment

A Royal Navy officer has won her sexual discrimination case against the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for its refusal to allow her to work part-time.

Chief petty officer Adele MacMillan was awarded £9,069 compensation by an employment tribunal in Edinburgh.

Mrs MacMillan, 39, took the MoD to a tribunal after the Royal Navy refused to allow her to reduce her workload after the birth of her second child.

An MoD spokesman said it was considering the implications of the determination.

The mother-of-two, from Stirling, joined the Royal Navy in 1983 and rose to the position of operations manager at HMS Gannet - a helicopter search and rescue centre based at Prestwick Airport, Ayrshire.

I want the Royal Navy to accept that it is not above the law Adele MacMillan

She requested changes to her working hours in order to help her accommodate childcare after the birth of her daughter, Kirsty, three.

But the MoD refused this request on the grounds that all personnel are employed on a full-time basis.

Speaking after the case, Mrs MacMillan said: "Winning the case means so much to my family. I hope that all the tears and heartache have been worthwhile.

'Blanket ban'

"I want the Royal Navy to accept that it is not above the law and introduce policies that prove it is prepared to show more care towards the welfare needs of its employees in respect of work-life balance."

The Equal Opportunities Commission Scotland backed Mrs MacMillan's action.

The commission's Rowena Arshad said: "The MoD's refusal to grant Mrs MacMillan's request amounted to a blanket ban on part-time and flexible working that we feel had to be challenged.

"Flexible working should be available across all sectors. It is essential that employers realise that in order to retain valuable members of staff and in order to recruit from the widest pool of talent possible they must put family friendly policies in place.

"I hope that the MoD will now review its current position on flexible working."

Full-time basis

The MoD said it was considering the long-term implications of the ruling.

A spokesman said: "All members of the Royal Navy serve on a full-time basis.

"The concept of part-time working is at odds with a 24/7, 365-days-a-year military commitment.

"It is accepted that Mrs MacMillan had difficulties juggling her domestic arrangements but she was able to meet her work commitments.

"The determination is now being considered by the MoD and it is too early to say what the implications might be."