A senior engineer has been awarded over £25,000 in compensation after an employment tribunal found she was systematically 'gaslit' by her employers for raising legitimate safety concerns about male colleagues accessing female-only facilities.
The Workplace Conflict
Rosa Blackwell, a highly experienced principal engineer, found herself at the centre of a contentious workplace dispute after expressing discomfort about male colleagues who identified as transgender using female toilets and changing rooms. The tribunal heard how Blackwell raised multiple concerns about privacy and safety, particularly regarding vulnerable female staff members.
'Gaslighting' and Dismissal
According to tribunal documents, Blackwell's employers repeatedly dismissed her concerns as 'transphobic' and subjected her to what the judge described as 'systematic gaslighting'. Management allegedly told her she was 'creating a problem' and that her views were 'not aligned with company values'.
Tribunal Findings
The Manchester employment tribunal ruled in Blackwell's favour, finding that her employers had failed to properly address her genuine safety concerns. The judge noted that reasonable accommodations could have been made to address privacy issues without discrimination.
Key tribunal findings included:
- Management failed to conduct proper risk assessments
- Blackwell was subjected to unfair treatment after raising concerns
- The company's response constituted harassment
- Reasonable adjustments could have resolved the situation
Broader Implications
This landmark case highlights the growing tension between transgender rights and women's safety concerns in workplace environments. The ruling emphasises that legitimate safety concerns must be properly addressed rather than dismissed as discriminatory.
Blackwell expressed relief at the verdict, stating she felt vindicated after years of being made to feel her professional concerns were unreasonable. The case sets an important precedent for how similar workplace disputes should be handled in the future.
