The self-proclaimed ‘Special One’, Jose Mourinho, has criticised Eva Carneiro, the Chelsea FC first team doctor for failing to “understand the game” after she went on the pitch to treat Eden Hazard at the end of the game against Swansea.  

Carneiro has apparently been told by Chelsea that whilst she will keep her title of ‘first team doctor’, she will no longer attend games, training sessions or enter the team hotel. A job title is often considered very important to employees and any demotion or change to this will usually be regarded as significant. The removal of major duties also runs the risk of being a change that goes to the heart of an employee’s contract of employment.

“Whilst an employer would normally have the right to make reasonable changes to an employee’s duties, they have to tread very carefully when making key changes. The timing of the changes and the public criticism of Carneiro does not sit comfortably with Chelsea’s description that it is nothing more than a ‘re-tasking’ of duties.

The way employers go about implementing changes can make a big difference and managers should be wary of appearing to undermine an employee or imposing changes as an apparent punishment. As a football Manager, Mourinho can chop and change the team as he sees fit but as an employer, chopping and changing is not quite so easy.”