Woman suffered racial harassment at work - tribunal

A black council worker was subjected to "serious racial abuse" and faced with "dismissive" managers when she complained about it, an employment tribunal found.

The woman was an intervention worker in West Berkshire Council's Youth Justice Support Team when two boys inflicted the abuse in April 2024.

Authority managers were found to have inferred to the woman that "absorbing that kind of abuse simply 'went with the territory'".

A West Berkshire Council spokesperson said it would be inappropriate to comment on the specific case but that staff's safety and wellbeing is "extremely important".

The worker joined the council in July 2023 before she resigned in June 2024.

When she complained to managers about the racial abuse, they were found to have focused on her response rather than the "severe provocation" she suffered.

She told the pair that she "did not have time to waste on little boys" and was rebuked by managers for that.

They were found to have "failed to recognise the seriousness and unpleasantness of the [boys'] racial abuse".

As a result, she suffered a "hostile, offensive and degrading working environment".

The council spokesperson said: "We are aware of the tribunal outcome and are considering the judgement and our response to it.

"While we do so it would be inappropriate for us to comment on the detail of this specific case.

"As a general principle, however, the safety and wellbeing of our staff is extremely important to us. We do not accept abuse, discrimination or harassment directed towards our employees, and we are committed to supporting colleagues when incidents occur."

All parties must send documents to the tribunal, ahead of a remedy hearing, by the middle of next month.