IT WORKER LOSES COMPENSATION CLAIM AFTER DISMISSAL FOR DREAM PROCLAMATIONS

Elrich Daudet, a senior computer analyst at Computacenter (UK) Ltd, has lost his employment tribunal appeal against his 2022 dismissal. The Employment Appeal Tribunal, presided over by Lord Fairley, rejected Mr Daudet's claim that his employers discriminated against him based on his "protected belief" in prophetic dreams. Mr Daudet had told a female colleague that he had seen her in his dreams months before they met in person, and subsequently sent her messages including love poems that compared her scent to "flowers in the Garden of Eden". The colleague reported that she felt uncomfortable and complained about his conduct to another staff member.

Mr Daudet claimed that the colleague had appeared to him in dreams acting as a muse for his poetry and songwriting before their actual introduction in August 2022. He worked at Computacenter (UK) Ltd, a FTSE 100 IT services company that provides equipment and services to businesses and public authorities, from 2008 until his dismissal. Mr Daudet said he possesses the gift of prophetic dreams since childhood, with some dreams functioning as warnings he feels obliged to share with anyone in danger. The tribunal heard evidence about the nature and frequency of his communications with the colleague following their meeting.

Lord Fairley found that Mr Daudet's belief in the prophetic power of dreams did not constitute a protected belief under equality law. The judge stated that the messages Mr Daudet sent were not a necessary manifestation of his stated beliefs and could legitimately be considered harassment. The ruling determined that the manner of communication—whether written or in person—was immaterial to the question of whether the colleague's discomfort was justified and actionable. Mr Daudet's appeal has been dismissed.