Courts / Kildare / Report

Shop worker who claimed he was left out of birthday whip-rounds loses racism claim

Summary

A shop worker, Artur Czopek, who claimed he faced racial discrimination after being excluded from workplace gift collections for birthdays and significant events, has lost his case. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) rejected his complaint under the Employment Equality Act 1998 against TJX Ireland Unlimited, which operates as TK Maxx. Czopek, a Polish part-time sales assistant in Newbridge, Co Kildare, alleged that an assistant manager only selected Irish employees for the collections, excluding non-Irish workers. He stated that after complaining to the store manager, Scott Cooper, in 2024, the practice continued. The tribunal heard that the collections were for milestone birthdays and work anniversaries, and that non-Irish employees, including a Latvian, Polish, and Russian worker, had received gifts. Adjudicator Bríd Deering found that the evidence did not support claims of racial discrimination, noting that beneficiaries included various nationalities and that Czopek's complaints lacked sufficient evidence.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Shop worker who claimed he was left out of birthday whip-rounds loses racism claim. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

• August 2024 Other
• May 2024 Other
• 2025-07-01 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Hearing Or Decision

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Read the original CNI report