Irish Bookkeeper Awarded £23,500 After Tribunal Rules 'Potato' Taunts Were Racial Harassment
An Irish bookkeeper who endured repeated taunts from her boss, including being called a 'potato', has been awarded more than £23,500 after an employment tribunal found she was racially harassed at work. Bernadette Hayes faced a barrage of derogatory comments about her heritage while employed at the engineering firm West Leeds Civils, based in Leeds.
Barrage of Derogatory Comments
Ms Hayes, from Ossett in West Yorkshire, testified that company director Mick Atkins subjected her to a campaign of abuse over a six-month period from December 2023 to June 2024. The tribunal heard that Mr Atkins repeatedly shouted 'potato' in a strong Irish accent during disagreements and even upon entering the office without provocation.
She was also branded a 'Paddy' and a 'pikey' by Mr Atkins, who allegedly accused her of 'lusting after the travellers outside the office'. These remarks left Ms Hayes feeling 'small, insecure, violated and extremely anxious', causing her to dread going into work.
Impact on Mental Health and Work Environment
Employment Judge Sophie Buckley detailed how the harassment created a 'hostile, humiliating and offensive environment'. Ms Hayes reported suffering panic attacks and insomnia, and she would sit in her car outside work, trying to muster the courage to enter the building.
'She felt physically sick walking into the office when Mr Atkins and his business partner Marcus Smith were both there as she dreaded them mocking her,' Judge Buckley noted. Ms Hayes would check emails to see if Mr Atkins was away and avoid conversations by making work calls immediately upon arrival.
Defence and Tribunal Findings
Mr Atkins claimed the proceedings were 'nonsense from start to finish', arguing that 'the potato was actually her joke' and denying the 'pikey' comment. However, the tribunal found that Ms Hayes had only used the term 'potato' herself to 'fit in' and 'make it seem okay', not as genuine banter.
Judge Buckley ruled that the repeated use of terms like 'potato', 'Paddy', 'stupid Paddy', and 'pikey' was 'overtly linked to race' and constituted 'unwanted conduct'. The judge also dismissed as 'entirely baseless' allegations of gross misconduct raised against Ms Hayes after she filed her grievance.
Compensation and Aftermath
Ms Hayes was awarded total compensation of £23,526, including £13,000 for 'injury to feelings' and £6,014 for loss of earnings. She began working at West Leeds Civils in 2021 as an office and finance manager but was signed off sick in summer 2024 due to the harassment.
In a statement, Ms Hayes expressed a desire to move on, saying, 'I’d just like to put everything behind me.' The case highlights ongoing issues of racial harassment in UK workplaces, with the tribunal emphasising that such behaviour creates toxic environments that can have severe psychological impacts on employees.
