A FORMER scaffolding boss in Bolton who missed out on a £20,000 bonus after he took his son to the hospital for an appendix operation has won a contract claim against his former employers.

Will Webb was accused of failing to work his notice at Network Scaffolding Contractors, in Horwich.

Bosses at the-then Lodge Bank firm, part of Taziker Industrial, claimed he left work early on March 22 last year - then failed to turn up on March 23, an employment tribunal was told.

But Mr Webb insisted he was allowed to leave work as he was accompanying his son while he had surgery to remove his appendix.

Network told him he was not entitled to a £20,000 bonus for the year, as he had failed to complete his full notice period.

Mr Webb told the Manchester hearing he believed he had been placed on gardening leave, as he was asked to hand in his company car and site keys.

The tribunal heard the manager was in charge of the company’s Salford branch before being moved to Bolton, in October 2017, where was made responsible for one of their regions.

His salary rose from £45,000 to £55,000 but he argued, as he had to take on the duties of a departing commercial manager, he should be paid more.

Though the parties disputed this, he says they agreed to eventually pay him £60,000, with a £20,000 bonus.

Ruling in Mr Webb’s favour, employment judge Pauline Feeney said he was “credible witness”, who had produced Facebook messages supporting his claim he was placed on gardening leave before he left.