16-hour cutoff discriminatory

When she fell ill, Sylvia Hayes, a school cleaner and dinner lady, was refused benefits under a Barclayloan Protection policy because she had previously worked for less than 16 hours a week. At tribunal, supported by the Equal Opportunities Commission, her submission that this was sex discrimination – as more women than men work short hours because of their caring responsibilities (78% of less-than-16-hour workers are women) – was accepted. She has received £7,240 compensation and cancellation of an outstanding loan.