A woman working as a receptionist at the Westville Hotel in Enniskillen has been awarded nearly £20,500 in an indirect sex discrimination case. Anna Owens had initially agreed to a fixed three-day working week, which allowed her to manage childcare responsibilities while employed at the hotel.
This arrangement formed part of her contract, according to an industrial tribunal. However, after a new general manager was appointed, Owens was informed that she would need to work a fully flexible seven-day rota in the interest of fairness to other staff. Owens was the only receptionist with childcare duties.
She stated that she felt "betrayed and deflated" when the work arrangements, which she had verbally agreed to before starting her employment, were altered. The tribunal heard that Owens had worked the agreed-upon days for over 18 months, with occasional changes made only when sufficient notice was given and if she could arrange childcare.
The Westville Hotel issued a statement expressing that they were "genuinely sorry" that Owens' employment with them concluded as it did.