Equality Tribunal makes €30,000 sexual harassment award

€55,000 has been awarded by the Equality Tribunal in six employment related cases during 2003.

In one case a female complainant who was found to have been sexually harassed by her manager and subsequently demoted and isolated, was awarded €30,000 in compensation.

The Equality Officer found that the woman, identified only as ‘Complainant 1’, was discriminated against on the ground of gender.

The complainant was awarded €15,000 in compensation for the effects of the discrimination and €15,000 in compensation for the effects of the victimisation.

The respondent was ordered to ensure that the complainant was protected from unnecessary contact with the manager and that she suffer no professional detriment from any measure in this regard.

The respondent was also ordered to review its policy in dealing with complaints of sexual harassment.

Only one employment case, which involved Coras Iompar Eireann, was not upheld.

Seven out of nine equal status cases were not upheld, according to Melanie Pine, Director of the Equality Tribunal.

Five of these concerned complaints by members of the travelling community over publicans’ refusal to serve them.

The Equality Tribunal was established in 1999 to hear or mediate complaints of unlawful discrimination under the Employment Equality Act 1998 and the Equal Status Act 2000.

Anyone who feels they have been discriminated against unlawfully may refer a claim to the Tribunal.

There is no charge or requirement for either party to have a lawyer or other representative.