The Equality Tribunal ordered a leisure company to pay Ms B €18,000 after finding that she was sexually harassed, discriminated against in her working conditions and dismissed because she rejected the general manager’s sexual advances. Equality Officer Hugh Lonsdale dated the decision 8 June 2010.
Ms B said the general manager repeatedly made sexual advances and that her working environment became intolerable after she rejected them. The company denied harassment and discrimination and said it dismissed her over work and conduct concerns. The officer found Ms B’s account more credible. He found that the sexual demands were unwanted verbal conduct of a sexual nature and that the company was responsible for the general manager’s actions.
The complaints about discrimination in training, separate harassment and victimisation failed. The officer found no discrimination in training, and said Ms B had made no discrimination complaint or started proceedings while employed, so she could not have suffered victimisation as defined by the law. The €18,000 compensation was equivalent to one year’s pay. The company was also ordered to develop and communicate a harassment prevention code within three months.