A single mother forced to resign from her job because she wanted to look after her son has been awarded £3,300 by an employment tribunal.

Alison McDonald, 35, had worked at Frinton Service Station for 15 years but left in June after being given an ultimatum by new boss Ian Peters.

She told the tribunal Mr Peters said if she could not or would not work to a new rota system, he would take it that she was handing in her notice.

Complying with the rota would have meant she could not look after her seven-year-old son, Matthew.

She said: "I feel I was pushed out. I was put in that situation because Mr Peters knew I would have no choice but to leave."

Under the new scheme, Miss McDonald would have had to work an average of 36 hours a week instead of 30.

She would no longer be working in the office, but doing till work, and her pay rise - which would come in to line with other employees instead of being higher - would be just 5p per hour.

Tribunal panel chairman David Crome described it as a huge change in working conditions which meant Miss McDonald lost face.

While allowances were made for another single mother employee - who did a split shift - Mr Peters admitted a similar arrangement had not been suggested to Miss McDonald.

He accepted things had not been substantially talked through.

On Wednesday the panel ruled that Miss McDonald, of Halstead Road, Kirby Cross, had been unfairly dismissed and ordered Mr Peters to give her £1,670 basic pay, £250 compensation for loss of statutory rights and £1,380 as notice pay for being made redundant.

Mr Crome said Mr Peters had been somewhat caught out and suggested if he had all existing contracts checked by a lawyer, it would be money well spent.

Following the hearing, Miss McDonald said: "I'm just glad its all over.

"I didn't do it for the compensation. It's the principle of making sure employers go about things the right way. Next time they might think about things more."

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