Full Breakdown
Sainsbury's Manager Awarded Compensation for Exclusion from Social Media Post
3/11/2026, 2:14:50 PM
Incident Overview: Exclusion from International Men’s Day Post
Darren Cooper, a Sainsbury's store manager from Pontypridd, South Wales, was awarded £11,852 by an employment tribunal after being excluded from a social media post celebrating International Men’s Day while on sick leave for anxiety. The post, shared by his regional director, Matt Hourihan, highlighted male leaders in the company but did not include Cooper, leading him to feel "excluded, humiliated and violated."
Background: Employment History and Health Issues
Cooper began his career with Sainsbury's in 1993 and became the manager of the Pontypridd store in 2010. He took sick leave in July 2022 due to anxiety. In November of the same year, Hourihan posted on LinkedIn and Yammer to honor male leaders in his team, stating, “All of you do this whilst leading busy lives outside of work... yet you all show up for work each day.” The post included photos of all regional store managers except Cooper.
Tribunal Findings: Harassment and Unfavorable Treatment
The tribunal ruled that Cooper's exclusion from the post constituted harassment related to his disability and unfavorable treatment arising from it. The panel noted that the decision to omit Cooper was based on Hourihan's belief that Cooper did not wish to be contacted during his leave, as he had deleted WhatsApp and requested to be left alone. However, the tribunal found that this reasoning amounted to unfavourable treatment due to Cooper's absence linked to his disability.
Compensation Details
The compensation awarded to Cooper included £7,500 for injury to feelings, alongside additional amounts for personal injury and interest. The tribunal emphasized the emotional toll the exclusion took on Cooper, who reported experiencing "untold further damage" to his health and the stress of answering inquiries from colleagues about his employment status.
Criticism of Management's Actions
Critics have pointed out that while Hourihan aimed to respect Cooper's request for privacy, the decision to exclude him from the post was ultimately detrimental. The tribunal highlighted that Hourihan had the opportunity to inform Cooper about the post prior to its publication, which could have mitigated the feelings of exclusion.
Official Statements & Responses
In response to the tribunal's findings, Hourihan stated that he believed it was best to leave Cooper out of the post to avoid unwanted contact. He also mentioned that he did not have a photo of Cooper and felt it inappropriate to ask for one. The tribunal, however, concluded that the exclusion was "unwanted conduct" related to Cooper's disability.
What's Next: Employment Status and Future Implications
Following the incident, Cooper was dismissed in June 2023 after ongoing discussions regarding his return to work. He had filed claims for disability discrimination, harassment, and unfair dismissal, with the tribunal ruling in his favor on the harassment claim but dismissing the others. The case raises broader questions about workplace inclusivity and the treatment of employees on medical leave.
