Council worker ordered to pay £20k over secret second job

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Oct, 13:20 · Archive

Elisha Neavin was dismissed from Southwark Council for taking a British Gas apprenticeship while on sick leave and appearing in the company's YouTube videos.

Elisha Neavin took up an apprenticeship with British Gas while officially on sick leave from her position at London Borough of Southwark Council, where she had worked for 15 years as a practice coordinator in Children's Services. She breached council rules by claiming she was unfit for work due to mental health issues including depression, anxiety and complex PTSD whilst simultaneously working for the energy supplier. Ms Neavin cited therapy sessions and observance of Ramadan as reasons for missing council meetings during her absence.

The council discovered her second employment when she appeared in YouTube promotional videos produced by British Gas. Following this discovery, Southwark Council dismissed Ms Neavin for gross misconduct. She subsequently took the council to an employment tribunal, alleging discrimination, but lost her case at London South Employment Tribunal.

The tribunal ordered Ms Neavin to pay £20,000 in costs to the council, ruling that this sum represented approximately half of the council's total legal costs in defending the case.

How it is being reported

• Council worker ordered to pay £20k after taking up second job at British Gas while on 'sick leave' and starring in their promo videosElisha Neavin, 37, took up an apprenticeship with British Gas while she was supposed to be on sick leave from her job at the London Borough of Southwark council.Daily Mail · 14 Oct, 13:09
• Council employee took a year's sick leave – then got caught working secret second jobElisha Neavin was even caught starring in YouTube videos for British GasThe Independent · 14 Oct, 11:08

In this story: Elisha Neavin · London Borough of Southwark · British Gas · London South Employment Tribunal

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem