IT employee sues company for no salary hike during 15 years when he was sick, court dismisses

Ian Clifford claimed he was being discriminated as IBM did not increase his salary in the last 15 years when he was on sick leave.

New Delhi: A senior IT employee, who is on sick leave since 2008, has moved court against his employer for not offering him a salary hike. Ian Clifford, an employee of IBM has alleged of being a victim of 'disability discrimination' as his salary has not been increased during the period when he was sick.

As per the IBM health plan, Clifford is entitled to get over 54,000 pounds a year along with guaranteed salary till 65 years of age. But, Clifford argued that the health plan was not enough as without a hike, the salary will get spent off fast due to inflation.

Clifford went on sick leave on 2008 and was away till 2013. After he returned, he raised objections that his salary was not increased during the last five years. Following which, the company offered him a 'compromise agreement' in April 2013 and placed him under IBM's disability plan.

The plan ensured that he would not be dismissed even if he was unable to work and would be paid 75 percent of his salary till recovery, retirement or death. His salary was initially 72,037 pounds and from 2013, he was to be paid 54,028 pounds till he retired.

In February 2022, Clifford complained that he was being discriminated upon as he had not got any salary hike after being included in the company's disability plan. He moved employment tribunal against IBM claiming that the security that was promised to him was not beneficial as his salary was not increased.

However, the employment tribunal dismissed his claim saying the company had given him a favourable treatment.