Words And Prejudice Can Be Costly

Words And Prejudice Can Be Costly

We have brought to your attention in recent months, decisions made at employment tribunals which highlight how important words are and how they are used.

A recent case focussed on how words were used against a gay couple by staff and their employer to convey slurs and negativity and, rightly, it has cost them money.

Tim Jeurninck and his husband Marco Scatena told a tribunal they had been bullied for months on end over their sexuality with constant slurs while working at Piatto, an Italian restaurant in London.

In one incident, when one of the directors complained about a dirty glass, he said of homosexuals, “I thought you people knew how to clean better.”

When Jeurninck complained his boss warned him that he was from a mafia family and suggested he could have him killed.

Scatena, who was manager and part owner in the restaurant said  that he had received threats of violence as well as unfounded accusations that he had been stealing from the till.

After both men resigned they sued Piatto for sexual orientation discrimination. The tribunal backed the claim and found the directors had tried to force Scatena out of the business.

Jeurninck, who worked as a waiter was awarded £41,732 and Scatena £83,102 and in his ruling the employment judge, Alexander Green said that as well as being wrongfully dismissed, the couple had been directly discriminated against because of their sexuality.

The Graham Agency, keeping you informed.