Employee told she was not ‘a real woman’ awarded £9,000

A restaurant worker has been awarded £9,000 compensation after a male colleague told her she was not “a real woman”.

Ms Jewel Minchella, aged 37, was asked by her colleague how many children she wanted and answered that she didn’t want any.

The colleague then said that all men wanted children and that if she got into a relationship with someone, he would eventually get bored of her and move on to someone younger.

Ms Minchella complained to her manager and asked that her grievance be handled immediately and professionally.

She chased up the matter six times, but nothing happened. A month later she received a letter telling her she was being made redundant.

The letter came just 48 hours after she was warned she was at risk of losing her job. Many of her male colleagues survived the redundancies.

She took legal action, claiming age and sex discrimination.

Employment judge Sally Gilbert found in her favour and said: “It is important for the Employment Tribunal to make awards which recognise the seriousness of discriminatory actions towards employees and that society has condemned discrimination.

“I considered that the Claimant ought to be compensated for injury to feelings arising from the comments made, the failure of the Respondent to address her complaint promptly or adequately and her dismissal, which was handled differently and less favourably to the way in which other people’s redundancies were handled.

“It was clear that the Respondent had retained other male employees when the Claimant was dismissed. These were all instances of direct discrimination.”

Ms Minchella was awarded £9,000 for injury to feelings and lost earnings.

Please contact Robert Bedford if you would like more information about the issues raised in this article or any aspect of employment law.