Teenage Waitress Awarded Over £13,000 After Experiencing Workplace Discrimination
An employment tribunal ruled that a 15-year-old waitress was subjected to discrimination based on her age, sex, race, and disability.
A teenage waitress who was earning £7 an hour has been awarded more than £13,000 in compensation after facing what an employment tribunal deemed unlawful discrimination. Daniesha Charles, who was 15 at the time of the incidents, experienced a "tirade of abuse" from a chef and the general manager at the Royal Thurso Hotel in Scotland.
Workplace Abuse and Discrimination
The tribunal heard that Ms. Charles, who is black British Caribbean, was the youngest and only black female staff member among a predominantly white, British workforce. She was employed part-time from May to June 2024 while also attending a full-time college course. Shortly after starting, she requested to work fewer hours due to her studies.
During her employment, Ms. Charles witnessed abusive language between the chef and general manager, Andy Woodcock, directed at staff members from South Africa and Nepal, but not at white male employees. The tribunal found that the chef, from the outset, showed contempt towards Ms. Charles's race and gender by consistently referring to her in derogatory terms and frequently shouting and swearing at her. This created an "intimidating and hostile" atmosphere.
One incident described involved Ms. Charles misspelling "porridge" on an order slip. The chef reportedly shouted at her, "that's not how you f****** spell porridge." Ms. Charles found this conduct aggressive, upsetting, and humiliating, especially as it occurred in front of other staff members.
The Apple Crumble Incident
Further abuse occurred on June 26, when Ms. Charles dropped an apple crumble while carrying it to a guest. As she re-entered the kitchen to explain and request a replacement, the chef interrupted her by shouting, "of course you did." Immediately after, both the chef and General Manager Andy Woodcock allegedly confronted her, "in my face shouting and swearing at me," according to Ms. Charles's description.
This intense verbal abuse left Ms. Charles in tears. She reportedly told the men to stop treating her that way, and they responded by suggesting she "get out." Distraught, Ms. Charles left the hotel and never returned. She contacted her mother, who subsequently complained about the treatment.
Tribunal Findings and Award
In response to the complaint, Mr. Woodcock sent an email on June 30 stating that had the hotel known about Ms. Charles's "anxieties and depressions" prior to her employment, she would not have been placed in that work environment. He concluded that the "only option is for the Hotel to finish her employment at this current time."
Employment Judge Joseph d'Inverno ruled that the conduct violated Ms. Charles's dignity and created an "intimidating, hostile, degrading and humiliating and offensive environment." The tribunal found that the chef and Mr. Woodcock engaged in shouting and swearing at younger staff members, non-white staff members, and disabled staff members, including Ms. Charles, while not subjecting older, white, British male staff to similar treatment.
Ms. Charles, who suffered from depression and anxiety during her employment, was awarded a total of £13,048 for the discrimination she experienced based on her age, sex, race, and disability.