Courts / Ireland / Report
Training company must pay former lecturer nearly €90k over sexual harassment
2022-11-29
Hearing Or Decision
Summary
A technical training company, Socrates Workforce Solutions Ltd, was ordered by the Workplace Relations Commission to pay former lecturer Kathleen Ryan nearly €90,000 after she was sexually harassed by a colleague, Mr A, in a classroom on 27 April 2021. The commission found the company vicariously liable for the harassment and sexual assault, noting a flawed investigation that left Ms Ryan confused and Mr A feeling vindicated. Ms Ryan's complaints alleged discrimination under the Employment Equality Act 1998 and penalisation under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. The tribunal recorded that Mr A had entered the classroom uninvited, leered at Ms Ryan, and sexually assaulted her while she assisted a student. Mr A later harassed her via WhatsApp and LinkedIn. The company's internal investigation issued a written warning to Mr A, but the commission deemed the response inadequate.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Training company must pay former lecturer nearly €90k over sexual harassment. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision
When:
- 27 April 2021 Other
- April 27 Incident
- August 2021 Other
- 2022-11-29 Publication
Topics
Stage Hearing Or Decision Violent Crime
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