Open golf course manager put herself down to work 10 days in a row without telling anyone - then said it was 'the last straw', resigned and sued

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 06:29 EDT, 4 September 2026 | Updated: 06:37 EDT, 4 September 2026 A spa manager at a major golf course - which has hosted The Open - signed herself up to work ten days in a row without telling anyone, then tried to sue over it.Sharon Anfield scheduled herself to work on consecutive days in the spa at Carnoustie Links in Angus, Scotland, before complaining it was the 'last straw' and resigning.She had been responsible for her own work rota and the Carnoustie Golf Hotel and Spa was unaware she had worked so many days, a tribunal heard.At the hearing Mrs Anfield said she had no choice from the £30,000-a-year job but her claim was thrown out by Dundee Employment Tribunal.The Carnoustie course - ranked 15th in the world by Golf Digest magazine - is known as the sport's greatest test because of its rugged terrain and shifting winds.Comprising 96 bedrooms, the luxury hotel has hosted The Open eight times, most recently the 2018 edition won by Francesco Molinari.Mrs Anfield joined the hotel's spa in May 2018 and was promoted to assistant spa manager in March last year, before being promoted to manager three months later.She was contracted to work 40 hours a week over five days but these could include weekends because of the nature of the spa. Sharon Anfield elected to work ten consecutive days at the Carnoustie Links spa before resigning and trying to sueThis meant it was possible in theory for her to work from Monday of one week until Wednesday of the next if she did not separate two working weeks.As spa manager Mrs Anfield was responsible for the spa staff rota - between five and ten employees worked under her - and her own shifts.The tribunal heard Mrs Anfield 'had been rostered to work December 14 to 24 with the weekend off (eight days) but because of last minute staff shortages she elected to work from December 14 to 24 (10 days).'No-one was aware that she was working 10 days continuously and she did not raise this as an issue.'But Mrs Anfield, from Montrose, Scotland, resigned on December 29 with immediate effect.She did not apply for another job because she wanted to look after her grandchildren and turned down a job in March 2026 because of her health.But she claimed she had been forced to resign from the spa because of the unreasonable consecutive working days, despite the fact she elected to work the shifts. Mrs Anfield claimed she 'couldn't take it any more' after working the stretch despite the fact she arranged her own rotaShe said she 'did 10 days solid and couldn't take it anymore' and that she 'was in charge of the rota but wasn't in charge of staff phoning in sick'.Employment Judge Michelle Sutherland dismissed her claims, saying: 'Working 10 days consecutively was not in breach of the Working Time Regulations or the express terms of her contract.'[Mrs Anfield] asserts that she worked 10 days in response to operational demands. The operational demands arose because of last minute staffing shortages which were beyond the [hotel's] control.'[Mrs Anfield] did not work 10 days because of an act or omission on the part of the [hotel]. [Mrs Anfield] elected to do so in response to operational demands.'The [hotel] was not aware that she was working 10 days continuously and she did not raise it with anyone.'Working 10 days in response to operational demands did not by itself constitute a breach of the implied term of trust and confidence.'[Mrs Anfield] did not resign in response to a repudiatory breach of contract and her complaint of constructive unfair dismissal does not succeed and is therefore dismissed.'Mrs Anfield's further claim of unlawful deduction from wages was also dismissed.The named respondent in Mrs Anfield's case was BH Alderwood Ltd, which is a management company responsible for employing 120 staff at the hotel. The hotel is run by Bespoke Hotels.