A care worker who was denied employment after disclosing her breast cancer diagnosis has been awarded £16,732 in compensation for disability discrimination. Lana Harber was initially offered a position with The Intrinsic Care Group, a Kent-based company, but the job offer was withdrawn following her disclosure of the illness.

According to the judgment delivered by London Employment Judge Anna Corrigan, the company’s director expressed that employing Harber would be too "emotional" due to the recent death of her own mother from cancer. The judge found that the employer’s actions worsened Harber’s already challenging circumstances and ruled that the job was withdrawn specifically because of her breast cancer diagnosis.

The ruling underscores that discrimination on the basis of a health condition, including cancer, is unlawful. The judge emphasized that withdrawing the job offer directly related to the diagnosis constituted a breach of disability discrimination laws.

The Intrinsic Care Group’s decision to rescind the offer followed a period during which Harber had disclosed her medical condition, seeking transparency with her prospective employer. The case highlights ongoing concerns about the treatment of individuals with serious health conditions in the recruitment process, especially within the care sector.

Harber’s successful claim and subsequent compensation award aim to reinforce protections for individuals facing similar challenges and to discourage premature judgments based on health status in employment decisions.