Irish woman receives £23,000 payout after boss kept shouting 'potato' when she entered office
She complained about the conduct of her boss and colleague and their 'racial' comments
An Irish woman has been compensated after an employment tribunal found her boss guilty of race harrassment and victimisation against the employee.
Bernadette Hayes had claimed that she was subjected to several taunts while she was employed by engineering firm West Leeds Civils.
The tribunal found that Mick Atkins, the company director, would shout 'potato' at her when she entered the office, using a number of derogatory terms about Irish people.
This included 'paddy', 'stupid paddy', and 'pikey', over a period of six months - making Bernadette feel 'small, insecure, violated and extremely anxious'.
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Bernadette, 58, described feeling like she was experiencing 'death by a thousand cuts' as she experienced name-calling on a daily basis.
Following the tribunal, a judge ruled in her favour over race harrassment and victimisation, though dismissed an allegation of race discrimination, as she won £23,526 in compensation.
Her total compensation included £13,000 in 'injury to feelings', and £6,104 in relation to loss of earnings.
Bernadette worked as an office and finance manager at the company for two years before the comments began, as she said that Atkins would make occasional remarks about being Irish, but matters got worse when colleague Marcus Smith started working in the communications department.
She explained that she suffered insomnia and panic attacks as a result of the continuous teasing, though she would be sacked in August 2024 over allegations of fraud.
Bernadette claimed that she experienced direct race discrimination, harassment and victimisation, at the employment tribunal in Leeds.
Speaking at the hearing, she said that she complained to Atkins about Smith's behaviour, claiming that he had a 'bullish personality', adding that 'volatile' Atkins and Smith were 'embarrassed' by her pointing it out.
They even called her a 'potato' on WhatsApp, as Bernadette became scared of asking her boss to stop, in fear of losing her job.
Bernadette stated at the tribunal: “I had a huge change in my personal circumstances, and I needed my job.
“I felt trapped, and this added to my anxiety. I used to remain quiet so as not to draw attention to myself but even this did not work.
“He even sent ‘potato’ in a WhatsApp exchange. Mr Atkins further called me a gypsy/traveller due to my Irish heritage.
“He would constantly say that I was lusting after the travellers outside the office. I felt bullied and harassed by this”.
While she complained about Atkins, the former West Leeds Civils employee highlighted that Smith was the main issue.
Bernadette said that she would make calls and check emails as soon as she got to work to avoid conversation, even sitting in her car before starting the day.
After raising these complaints with the company, she was accused of allegations of gross misconduct which the tribunal judge described as 'entirely baseless' and 'triggered by the complaints made'.
They ruled that she was subjected to 'unwanted conduct', which created a 'hostile, humiliating and offensive environment' for Bernadette.
Judge Buckley explained: “In my view, taken as a whole, it is reasonable for an individual of Irish heritage to find the repeated use of the terms ‘potato’, ‘Paddy’, ‘stupid Paddy’ and ‘pikey’ offensive and humiliating.
“These phrases are overtly linked to race, particularly when considered together rather than in isolation.”
The judge acknowledged that she joined in on some occasions, but mostly stayed out of it, as it was believed that she did it to try and make light of the situation and fit in with colleagues.
Atkins said that the tribunal proceedings were 'nonsense from start to finish'.
Joshua Nair