Courts / Ireland / Report

Former finance chief claims she had to tell biotech CEO she was 'not a waitress'

Summary

In October 2022, Tracey McGann, former finance chief at ERS Genomics Ltd, told the company's CEO, Eric Rhodes, that she was "not a waitress" after he remarked that a dinner group had no red wine. McGann claims the incident was part of a broader pattern of discrimination, victimisation and constructive dismissal under the Employment Equality Act 1998. She alleges that she was given a smaller pay rise in 2020 than male colleagues, that the company tried to demote her when she sought part‑time work in 2022, and that a proposed salary cut to €80,000 was halted when Rhodes sanctioned a contractor instead. In November 2022, Rhodes suggested a new VP of finance role would replace her, telling her to "start looking for a new job." McGann resigned in January 2023 after sending a legal letter with grievances, to which she received no response. ERS Genomics disputes the claims, arguing the constructive dismissal test could not be met.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Former finance chief claims she had to tell biotech CEO she was 'not a waitress'. Charges or matters: discrimination; victimisation; discriminatory constructive dismissal. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial

When:

• October 2022 Incident
• November 2022 Other
• August 2023 Other
• New Year Other
• 2023-10-17 Publication

Case subjects

Topics

Stage Charge Or Pretrial

Read the original CNI report