{
  "id": 19449661,
  "title": "Accenture takes endometriosis sacking battle to the Court of Appeal",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/11/accenture-takes-endometriosis-sacking-battle-to-the-court-of-appeal",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-11-11T05:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "City AM",
    "slug": "city-am",
    "url": "https://www.cityam.com/accenture-takes-endometriosis-up-or-out-sacking-battle-to-the-court-of-appeal/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Accenture, the professional services firm, is taking its dispute over a former employee's termination to the UK's Court of Appeal. The case concerns Sanju Pal, a 10-year management consultant who was dismissed in 2019 under Accenture's 'up or elsewhere' performance model. This system requires employees to demonstrate progress towards the next grade level; failing to do so is treated as underperformance. Pal was given consecutive 'not progressing' ratings in 2018 and 2019 while battling endometriosis, a chronic medical condition affecting the womb, leading to periods of sickness absence and a phased return to work. Pal subsequently lodged an employment claim against Accenture, alleging unfair dismissal and disability discrimination. The Employment Tribunal in 2022 agreed that the dismissal was procedurally unfair, citing a breach of Accenture's own policy and the absence of independent decision-makers. However, the ET still applied a 100% reduction in compensation, resulting in no payment for lost earnings, and dismissed her disability discrimination claim, stating her endometriosis did not meet the legal definition of a disability under the Equality Act 2010. The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) in January 2026 ruled the ET's compensation reduction was incorrect, as the 'up or out' policy does not automatically justify firing someone capable of fulfilling their role. The EAT also criticized the ET's dismissal of Pal's disability claim as \"wholly inadequate\" and found the ET failed to properly analyze medical evidence, the impact of her condition, and its recurrence likelihood. Judge Tayler allowed Pal's appeal and ordered the case to be sent back to the Employment Tribunal for a new hearing. Following the EAT's judgment, Accenture appealed to the Court of Appeal, seeking to have the original 2022 Tribunal decision reinstated.",
  "summary": "Professional services giant Accenture has asked the Court of Appeal to reinstate a ruling that meant it didn’t have to pay a former manager ‘unfairly dismissed’ compensation. A former management consultant, Sanju Pal, who worked at the firm for 10 years, was dismissed in July 2019 under Accenture’s ‘up or elsewhere’ progression-based performance model. This [...]",
  "key_points": [
    "Accenture appeals Court of Appeal decision on Pal's termination.",
    "Sanju Pal dismissed in 2019 for failing performance model.",
    "Endometriosis led to sickness absence and phased return to work."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}