The WRC found that a charity founder’s constructive dismissal claim was not well founded in a decision dated 3 April 2018. The complainant had worked as the charity’s CEO before taking on the role of Executive Chairman.
He said uncertainty about his role, exclusion and tensions with the new CEO left him no choice but to resign. The charity argued that he had not used its grievance process and that the conflict arose from a poorly defined transition between the two senior roles.
The adjudication officer found that the roles had not been clearly separated and that the board had no shared plan to resolve the tensions. But the evidence did not establish a campaign against the complainant, and the shortcomings in contracts and role clarity did not justify his resignation. The claim failed on its merits.