Courts / Ireland / Report
Company ordered to compensate woman asked about nationality in interview
2022-06-16
Hearing Or Decision
Summary
In a case decided by the Workplace Relations Commission on 16 June 2022, Narimene Saad, who was wearing a headscarf, was awarded €1,500 in compensation after the WRC found that Deeward Ltd had discriminated against her on the basis of race. Saad had applied for a part‑time weekend administrative assistant role at the firm's Ballycoolin premises on 4 April 2021. During the interview, the operations manager, Ray Sood, asked her about her nationality, first noting she was from Germany and then asking where she was "originally from", to which Saad replied she was German but originally from Algeria. Saad objected to the question, stating it should not be asked. The interview ended without discussion of her skills or experience. Saad claimed the company was not interested in hiring her because she wore a headscarf. The WRC found that the question about nationality, asked only of Saad and not of other candidates, raised an inference of discrimination.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Company ordered to compensate woman asked about nationality in interview. Charges or matters: discrimination on the basis of race. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision
When:
- 4 April 2021 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2022-06-16 Publication
Why: She replied that she could not take up a full-time post because of her childcare duties and pointed out the job advertised was part-time. CNI source report
Case subjects
Applicant
Charges: discrimination on the basis of race (Alleged Or Contested)
Topics
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