Carer called a ‘slut’ after modelling stockings wins harassment claim

A carer who was called a ‘slut’ by colleagues after they saw photos of her modelling underwear has been awarded £3,000 compensation for harassment.

Ms C L Wallace worked for the Acomb Court Care Home in Hexham in October 2019 until January 2020.

She also did a little modelling and on one occasion posted photos of her wearing a black leather basque and fishnet stockings, which had been published in a magazine on Facebook.

Wallace later saw senior carer Helen Hewison showing the photos to colleagues. She said that she heard Hewison comment that she looked like a slut. During the conversation, another colleague said she looked like she belonged on a porn site and a third person said she looked like a go-go dancer.

Later, as she was finishing work, she said Hewison shouted to her: “where are you going? Pink Lane?”

The Employment Tribunal was told that Pink Lane was a road in Newcastle associated with prostitution.

Wallace confronted Hewison about the remarks, but she claimed she was only joking.

The tribunal heard evidence that Wallace, who was working a probationary period, was struggling to perform some tasks and was posing a risk of injuring residents. She also failed to complete some online training modules.

She was dismissed on 31 January 2020. 

The tribunal ruled that this was “wholly non-discriminatory” because her employer felt she lacked competence. Her claims of direct sex discrimination, victimisation and unlawful deduction of wages were dismissed.

However, the tribunal upheld her claim of harassment because even if Wallace had shown photographs of her modelling to others, it was “not a licence to say to her things implying she was a promiscuous slut or a prostitute”.

Judge T M Garnon said: “The comment about her looking like a “go-go dancer”, and maybe even a “porn star”, could be described as “banter” but those about being a slut and going to Pink Lane could not.”

Wallace was awarded £3,000 compensation plus £320 interest.

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Carer called a slut after modelling stockings wins harassment claim
Case Number 2500702/20 (V)
Employment Tribunal
Ms C.L.Wallace and H-C One Ltd
April 2021
Judge Garnon