compensation-after-being-excluded-from-work-drinks

Released On 20th May 2022

£74,000 awarded in compensation after being excluded from work drinks

In this week's e-bulletin we bring you news that an employee has recently been awarded over £74,000 in compensation after being excluded from work drinks.

This case concerned an intoxicating mix of claims by Ms Leher, including unfair dismissal, race and age discrimination and victimisation. Ms Leher succeeded in each claim after it was heard that fellow cashiers at the casino she worked at, discussed going for drinks at Las Iguanas with Ms Leher being "the only one in the room not included." It seems that Ms Leher's exclusion was a indication of her colleagues "displeasure" in relation to a discrimination complaint Ms Leher had made about another staff member. 

The Tribunal ruled that deliberately excluding a colleague from work drinks of this kind was victimisation, for which the employer was responsible! Cheers, you may say. 

On top of this, the Tribunal heard that Ms Leher had not received the £1000 pay-rise she had been awarded in 2012, that she was repeatedly rejected or ignored when applying for more senior internal roles within the business and that several cash desk colleagues were promoted, none of whom were black or mixed race (as Ms Leher is) and all of whom were younger than her.

The treatment listed above is clearly unacceptable to any reasonable employer. However, it would seem it was the exclusion from colleague-organised work drinks that caused Ms Leher to escalate matters to the Tribunal. (Just think how many drinks could be bought with £74,000!).

It follows that as employers you are well advised to ensure that your staff are made aware of the standards of conduct expected from them (both inside and outside of work). You should also ensure you have clear and up to date policies in place that prohibit, amongst other things, discriminatory or bullying behaviour, in any circumstances. 

As always, we are here to help; so if your policies and procedures could use some refreshment of their own or you would like us to deliver some work place training to help you avoid situations like this, just let us know. 

If you require any help or assistance regards this topic or anything else employment law related, please contact our Employment Law Team get in touch