The Free Speech Union (FSU) has secured hundreds of thousands of pounds for one of its members, a dyslexic Lloyds Bank manager who was unfairly dismissed for using a racial slur in a work training session. According to the FSU, this victory was against Lloyds Bank, and the damages secured for Carl Borg-Neal are estimated to exceed £800,000. However, Lloyds Bank disputes this amount and The Telegraph reported that the sum is £490,000.
In 2021, the bank was implementing race education training for over 70,000 employees. During a session, a trainer read a script emphasizing the importance of speaking freely about race and being understanding of potential clumsiness in dialogue. Mr. Borg-Neal, who has dyslexia, expressed relief at the prospect of speaking freely without intentional harm due to his occasional clumsiness when communicating.
During the training sessions, Mr. Borg-Neal posed a question about how to handle language that might be considered offensive when used by someone not within a certain ethnic minority. Specifically, he brought up instances in rap music where potentially offensive language is used. Following this, an incident occurred where the trainer was offended and took time off work, triggering an investigation and eventually leading to Mr. Borg-Neal’s dismissal for gross misconduct based on accusations of racism.
In August, a tribunal panel acknowledged that Mr. Borg-Neal did not intend to cause any hurt, asked his question with no malice, and that the question itself was valid. It also highlighted the influence of his dyslexia on his communication style and language use during the session.
Mr. Borg-Neal ultimately sought compensation after originally making efforts to return to his previous job. The FSU stated that the final compensation amount is still being determined. The organization also expressed its satisfaction that Mr. Borg-Neal was able to obtain justice and a settlement that would provide financial security until retirement age. However, a spokesperson for Lloyds Banking Group disputed the estimated compensation amount of £800,000.