The Equality Tribunal found that a worker had been sexually harassed and discriminatorily dismissed by her employer, and ordered €6,500 compensation. Equality Officer Michael McEntee dated the decision 27 July 2015.
The worker said the employer made sexual comments and touched her at the barber shop, then dismissed her after an argument in August 2013. The employer denied improper conduct and described their exchanges as harmless humour. The officer preferred the worker’s account, finding the comments and physical contact occurred. He also found the employer had not given substantive evidence to justify the dismissal.
The employer was also ordered to provide a basic written employee handbook with sections on equality and preventing discrimination.