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06/07/2016
Two Female Scientists Settle Sex Discrimination Cases For £47,500
Two female scientists have settled sex discrimination cases against a public body for £47,500.
Carole Daly from Belfast and Hollie Lewis from Bangor both worked for the Agri-Food and Bio-Sciences Institute in south Belfast.
They both claimed they were consistently treated less favourably by two male co-workers.
Ms Daly received £25,000 and Ms Lewis received £22,500.
Ms Daly, started work at the Institute in 2009, and complained of incidents which took place and treatment she received in the laboratory at Newforge Lane, where she was placed on her return to work from maternity leave in 2013.
Ms Lewis had worked in the Institute since 2004 and, when she was transferred to the same laboratory in 2014, she also complained about her treatment.
The two women said they were consistently treated less favourably by the male ASO and the Senior Scientific Officer and were subjected to abusive conduct by both of them.
Though all staff in the laboratory were the same grade, they said the Project Leader, a Senior Scientific Officer, frequently described the only male ASO as "the top dog" and said that the other (female) staff were below him. They also said they were shouted at without justification and when they complained repeatedly about the situation their complaints were not dealt with. Both women brought complaints to more senior people in the Institute and eventually lodged formal grievances, however these were rejected.
Ms Lewis said: "As a woman working in a technical and scientific role I was very upset to be treated so badly. The situation became so difficult it made me ill and I had to take time out from work. When I challenged this behaviour and tried to have the situation rectified, I felt nobody took me seriously. I am pleased that the Institute has now apologised for the upset and distress I suffered and that it will be reviewing its policies, practices and procedures with the Equality Commission."
Ms Daly said: "I was very pleased to be working in a scientific job, but I never envisaged I would experience the type of treatment that I had to endure. I felt undermined and undervalued. Everyone is entitled to be treated fairly and with respect in their place of work and it is important that employers deal with situations like this and don't allow them to develop. I am happy that the case has now been resolved and I am continuing to develop my career within the Institute."
In both cases the Institute apologised for the injury to feelings, upset and distress suffered by the women as a result.
Pic: Equality Commission
(CD)
Carole Daly from Belfast and Hollie Lewis from Bangor both worked for the Agri-Food and Bio-Sciences Institute in south Belfast.
They both claimed they were consistently treated less favourably by two male co-workers.
Ms Daly received £25,000 and Ms Lewis received £22,500.
Ms Daly, started work at the Institute in 2009, and complained of incidents which took place and treatment she received in the laboratory at Newforge Lane, where she was placed on her return to work from maternity leave in 2013.
Ms Lewis had worked in the Institute since 2004 and, when she was transferred to the same laboratory in 2014, she also complained about her treatment.
The two women said they were consistently treated less favourably by the male ASO and the Senior Scientific Officer and were subjected to abusive conduct by both of them.
Though all staff in the laboratory were the same grade, they said the Project Leader, a Senior Scientific Officer, frequently described the only male ASO as "the top dog" and said that the other (female) staff were below him. They also said they were shouted at without justification and when they complained repeatedly about the situation their complaints were not dealt with. Both women brought complaints to more senior people in the Institute and eventually lodged formal grievances, however these were rejected.
Ms Lewis said: "As a woman working in a technical and scientific role I was very upset to be treated so badly. The situation became so difficult it made me ill and I had to take time out from work. When I challenged this behaviour and tried to have the situation rectified, I felt nobody took me seriously. I am pleased that the Institute has now apologised for the upset and distress I suffered and that it will be reviewing its policies, practices and procedures with the Equality Commission."
Ms Daly said: "I was very pleased to be working in a scientific job, but I never envisaged I would experience the type of treatment that I had to endure. I felt undermined and undervalued. Everyone is entitled to be treated fairly and with respect in their place of work and it is important that employers deal with situations like this and don't allow them to develop. I am happy that the case has now been resolved and I am continuing to develop my career within the Institute."
In both cases the Institute apologised for the injury to feelings, upset and distress suffered by the women as a result.
Pic: Equality Commission
(CD)
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