A British woman has won the initial stages of a legal case at the European Court of Justice, which could see new rights established for millions of carers.
Sharon Coleman, who has a disabled son, says she was forced to leave herjob in March 2005 because she was not allowed as much flexibility in herwork as parents of other children. Ms Coleman wanted flexible workingarrangements but accepted voluntary redundancy and began a claim forconstructive dismissal five months later. A panel of European judgeswill make a final ruling later this year. The Advocate-General agreedthat Ms Coleman suffered 'discrimination by association' because sheclaimed her manager said her son was always sick and accused her oftrying to use his condition to get out of work.
