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Tate Modern worker claims 'cold' gallery made her sick for a year
Danny Brierley07.04.09
A TATE Modern gallery supervisor is claiming thousands of pounds in compensation because the "cold" temperature in the former power station made her health deteriorate.
Elizabeth Andrews, 40, who suffers from Crohn's disease, which causes inflammation of the intestine, claims the gallery's vast size and air conditioning made her illness so severe that she had to take more than a year off work.
In papers lodged with an employment tribunal, Miss Andrews, who has worked for the Tate since 2003, said her health problems worsened when she was forced to relocate from Tate Britain in Millbank across the Thames to the South Bank gallery in November 2007.
The supervisor, from Rochester in Kent, said the effects of the move made her "desperately unhappy" and her illness deteriorated so rapidly within three weeks of her assuming the new post that she was off sick for 14 months.
She said she had "reluctantly" agreed to move to the larger modern art gallery after she had an argument with a colleague at a party.
In a statement she said: "I was told that this could not continue and that one of us would have to transfer to Tate Modern. I did not want to move and asked what would happen if I refused.
"They told me that they would ask the other woman and if she refused it would be passed to a committee, whereby one of us would be dismissed, most likely me. On that basis I had no choice and reluctantly agreed to move."
She also claims that arrangements to accommodate the symptoms of her condition that were in place at Tate Britain were not transferred to Tate Modern.
Miss Andrews is claiming that the "much bigger and colder" Sir Giles Gilbert Scott-designed former power station was the reason for her worsening health and that her illness was not taken into account before her transfer.
Her statement said: "It became clear that it was not suitable for me. It is a much bigger and colder building than Tate Britain. The air conditioning from the CCTV room where I worked from time to time made my back condition worse."
Miss Andrews made repeated requests to be transferred back to Tate Britain during her time off. She was allowed to return to the older gallery in March this year and still works there.
Richard Hignett, representing Tate, said the claim was based on "historical issues" and was not submitted in time.
But a judge dismissed Mr Hignett's attempt on behalf of the Board of Trustees of the Tate Gallery to have the tribunal claim thrown out and a hearing is due to be held in August.
Reader views (18)
I used to work In the Tate Mod and Brit, this women who i worked with a few times always complained about something, It's simply obvious she was upset at having to leave the old job, she's taken the mickey here, i honestly hope she doesn't win a penny she's a joke, i mean does she never get on tubes? london traffic? visit the Modern? she's trying to make a pretty penny and i feel safe to safe the women is a fool.
p.s look how happy she looks with the attention she's getting in the photo...
- Ricky, London
I know this woman, she displays signs of a person who wants a job but does not want to work I think we call this lazy. Tate was too lenient with her she should have gotton the sack ages ago before they transferred her to Tate modern where she was for a few days only then went off sick for over a year. wasnt she at Tate Britain with a bad sick record as well? Give her the sack with no compensation and she can go home, put her feet up and collect incapacity benefit,
- Joanie, Greater London
I have worked for many years on very exposed construction sites during exteme winter conditions including oil rigs ,sullom voe oil terminal in the shetlands ,the channel tunnel, rig construction yards in the north of scotland . Yes it was cold , but suitable clothing made a difference . What a shame that this did not occur to this lady.
- William, London ,U.K.
I'm with Jack Spratt on this one. How did the HR Department of Tate allow this to happen? If she had a recognised disability isn't it obligatory on them to take this into account? And why were the HR department trying to get the case thrown out on a technicality? Couldn't possibly be that they have messed up and actually Miss Andrews is in the right, could it? And if the judge dismissed the attempt to have the case thrown, doesn't this also show that the case has merit?
- Peter, London, England
It seems to me that many of the people posting have not read the article correctly. I think it says that Miss andrews was perfectly fine and able to perform all her duties at the Tate Britain. Then Tate sent her to Tate Modern, which is a completely different type of building against her will and not taking her disability into account. Doesn't it say at the end of the article that the Tate failed in its bid to get the claim dismissed?
- George English, London England
There is a definite job in politics for this Lady,she would fit right in with the home secretary and other MPs.
- David, london
This shows what is wrong with our employment legislation.
- Jeremy E, London
The exhibitions at Tate Modern would make anyone ill. They should close the gallery and give all the staff compensation.
- Terry Tops, Londoner
Two bottles of aspirins and 5 boxes of Kleenex and close the door quietly on the way out,Miss Andrews.After which join the real world!!!
- P Doff, filey uk
Why didn't she just wear a wooly jumper? It works for sheep in Wales!
- Haskey, London SE1
I used to work with this woman - she was always a bit sickly and she was a vegetarian.
- Kathy Doyle, London - England
Ludicrous, her Crohns was inflammed after just three weeks at the TAte MOdern then she had 14 months off. Pull the other one.....
- Joe, Brighton, England
Whenever I've visited Tate Modern one of the things I noticed is how hot it is inside.
- Jerry Logue, london england
Let's get this straight.
The woman took a job that she was medically unable to do.
In the real world, she would have been 'let go' to pursue another less demanding career.
(although in PC speak, she would need to be re-deployed)
Please, no more compensation !
- Cap, london
If it didn't suit her she should have left. And if she took months off sick she should have been sacked.
- Eastender, London
How did the gallery get in this situation. If she has a recognised illness they should get her back to the old Tate asap. Tate Modern is a vast, depressing cavern with bizarre exhibits chosen only for their large size. A forced move there is enough to put anybody off the rails.
- Jack Spratt, Richmond, England
We have one of "those people" at work, everyone time someone turns the air conditioning on she gets a cold for a week, consequently we are currently sitting in a 28 degree centigrade office with all of the windows open, I dread to think what summer's going to be like.
- Bob, Cheam
I think it is clear that work is not suitable for you darling.
Sue the public purse, take early retirement. Why not everyone else is doing it.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
