By Sohaib Shams
A 15-year-old waitress has been awarded over £13,000 in compensation following a discrimination case involving verbal abuse and harassment at a hotel in the Scottish Highlands.
Details of the tribunal case
Daniesha Charles, who was working part-time at The Royal Thurso Hotel while completing a college course, faced a tirade of abuse after a kitchen door knocked a plate of apple crumble from her hands. The Edinburgh Employment Tribunal heard that the incident led to a confrontation where both the chef and the general manager, Andy Woodcock, shouted and swore at her.
The tribunal found that Ms. Charles, who has dyslexia and suffers from depression and anxiety, was subjected to an intimidating and hostile environment. The chef reportedly referred to her using dehumanizing terms such as "that" and "it." Additionally, the chef aggressively scolded her for misspelling the word "porridge" on a breakfast order slip, causing her significant humiliation in front of colleagues.
Findings of discrimination
The tribunal concluded that the conduct of the staff constituted direct discrimination and harassment related to age, sex, race, and disability. Evidence showed that while the chef and manager frequently shouted at and swore at young, female, and non-white staff members, they did not direct such behavior toward older, white British male employees.
Ms. Charles, the only Black female employee at the hotel at the time, left her position following the incident. Employment Judge Joseph d'Inverno ruled that the conduct violated Ms. Charles's dignity and created an offensive environment. The hotel was ordered to pay £11,500 for hurt feelings, alongside compensation for lost wages and the failure to provide written particulars of employment.
