- Bernadette Hayes, an Irish woman, was awarded £23,526 in a harassment payout after her employer at a Leeds civil engineering company repeatedly made comments about her race.
- Mick Atkins, director of West Leeds Civils Ltd, frequently shouted "potato" at Ms Hayes in an Irish accent and used terms like "paddy" and "p*key" over a six-month period.
- Ms Hayes, a bookkeeper, faced a “hostile, humiliating, and offensive” environment, causing her significant distress and impacting her self-esteem, employment judges ruled.
- She was eventually signed off work in July 2024 due to panic attacks and stress, despite her attempts to make light of the situation and her fear of confronting her "intimidating" boss.
- The Leeds Employment Tribunal found the conduct was linked to race, upholding claims of race harassment and victimisation, and awarded compensation, including £13,000 for "injury to feelings".
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