The Workplace Relations Commission dismissed Olumide Smith’s race discrimination and harassment claim against IBEC Company Limited by Guarantee as frivolous or vexatious. Adjudication Officer Úna Glazier-Farmer dated the decision 9 November 2021.
Smith said an IBEC representative made a comment about his origins at a Labour Court hearing in Dublin on 2 June 2016. He also argued that IBEC should be held responsible for the comment and raised issues about the company’s response to his complaint and its name change.
IBEC denied discrimination and harassment. It argued that it was representing a client at the hearing, not providing Smith with a service covered by the Equal Status Act. The adjudication officer found that IBEC was not providing him with such a service at the hearing and dismissed the claim under section 22 of the Act. The merits were not decided.