Forced Out for Saying Fireman

A hero firefighter of 27 years’ service praised for his bravery was disciplined for not telling off colleagues for using the term ‘fireman’ and has now lost an unfair dismissal case. The Mail has more.

Simon Bailey, who was previously praised for his bravery, was issued a written warning in July 2023 by a tribunal after failing to challenge staff who used the term ‘fireman‘.

It came after a female colleague, former England rugby player Sasha Acheson, had complained about his behaviour and ongoing “sexism” within the service.

Part of her complaint included the term “fireman” being “used frequently” by her co-workers at the station, despite the terminology being “outdated”. 

She claimed that when she took her concerns to her manager he was “shell-shocked” by her complaint and “mildly aggressive” in tone. Ms Acheson later received a payout of more than £52,000 while Mr Bailey was reprimanded.

Mr Bailey, who had spent 27 years working for Avon Fire and Rescue Service and had received a letter of commendation from his bosses, said he had been left feeling “humiliated” by the proceedings.

After taking time off work on sick leave, he resigned from his role as Watch Manager in September 2023 and launched an unfair dismissal case against the service claiming constructive dismissal.

But he has now lost his claim, after an employment tribunal ruled his bosses had been “reasonable” to reprimand him for his lack of action following Ms Acheson’s complaint.

Ms Acheson complained about the behaviour of her colleagues in July 2021, with part of the issue being their continued use of the word ‘fireman’. 

She claimed she challenged peers when it was used “with a smile” or a “groan”, and on one occasion, a firefighter responded: “I will stop saying fireman when they stop specifically recruiting only firewomen.”

She added that Mr Bailey had “treated her like a probie [someone on probation], not respected her, belittled her and put her down”.

In a separate incident, Ms Acheson alleged women were called “snakes with tits” by staff. 

During an investigative interview, Mr Bailey said that the term fireman was used “quite commonly, rightly or wrongly”.

“I’m old-fashioned. I don’t use it, but I don’t see a problem. It’s pretty obvious to me that that term should not be used anymore,” he said.

He admitted that he never challenged anyone for saying fireman rather than firefighter – but claimed he might have joked “you can’t say that”.

He said the language at the station “[was] not squeaky clean all the time”, but he believed it to be “respectful”.

When asked about comments, one of his colleagues said: “[They are] not malicious. There is banter with everyone.

“When there are girls there – someone might make a joke, who is doing the dishes?”

A probe into the incident later found Mr Bailey should have challenged his crew members about using the term ‘fireman’ instead of ‘firefighter’. 

In December 2021, Ms Acheson went on sick leave and did not return until her employment tribunal ended in May 2022. 

She won her sexual harassment, discrimination and victimisation case, and received a payout of over £52,000. 

Mr Bailey later received a written warning for failing to confront his colleagues, and suffered a downward mental spiral as a result. He eventually left the force.

Worth reading in full.