In Ms C v Thistle Communications Ltd (in liquidation) a Vodafone worker, identified only as Ms C, was asked by manager Bilal Shahid how lesbians have sex and was told that she looks like a ‘normal lassie’ despite being gay.
Another worker said: ‘Love who you want to love but when it comes to affecting my child, I don’t think LGBT should be taught in schools.’
Ms C quit her job after just three months and sued Vodafone franchise Thistle communications Ltd for sex discrimination and victimisation, leading to a tribunal in Glasgow.
In one incident, she said senior manager Bilal Shahid – known as Billy – asked her ‘how do lesbians have sex then, I’m intrigued,’ the tribunal heard.
The woman said: ‘I told him I wasn’t going to answer that question, and he asked me again after a customer left.’
Another manager, Matthew Graham, told her she looked like a ‘normal lassie’ when ‘referring to her sexuality’ which she told the hearing she interpreted to mean that being gay was unusual.
The same manager was also overheard saying ‘that’s a waste,’ when referring to a gay woman, the panel was told.
She reported the discrimination she had suffered but when Shahid and Graham were not reprimanded she took time off for stress before quitting.
Ms C said: ‘I don’t feel safe to return to an environment which humiliated me, alienated me and has made me need to seek counselling.
‘This has cost me months of my life.
‘I have endured those comments from start to finish in that employment and it has made me feel like irreparable damage has been caused, I have never been humiliated like that.
Employment judge Ian McPherson said: ‘It is to be hoped that lessons have been learned… about the importance of working relationships within the workplace, the need to avoid discrimination, bullying and harassment in the workplace.
‘It seems to us that there are many issues arising from this case, and what support, if any the franchisor makes available to employees of franchisees as regards LGBT+ support.’
Thistle Communications was ordered to pay £25,000 for injury to feelings, £1,100 for financial loss and £2,600 for the firm’s failure to follow approved workplace procedures.
The company has gone into liquidation.
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