The Labour Court affirmed a €600 compensation award to Mark Savage after finding that a Group 4 Securicor staff member made a discriminatory remark during a job interview. The determination was signed on 25 June 2007, and the Court disallowed Savage’s appeal for higher compensation.
Savage had claimed gender discrimination after an office assistant commented on his long hair and ponytail when he attended an interview. The Court found the remark did not reflect the company’s dress code, which required men and women to look neat and tidy and to tie up long hair. It ruled that the remark was discriminatory and that the assistant had been acting in the course of her employment, making Group 4 Securicor liable.
The Court also found that Savage significantly contributed to his loss or damage by leaving without clarifying the dress code and not raising the incident with his union. It agreed with the Equality Officer that modest compensation was appropriate, leaving the €600 award in place.