A female manager at Morrisons is suing the supermarket giant after allegedly receiving a sexually explicit Secret Santa gift from a colleague, which she claims created a hostile work environment.
The incident occurred during a staff Christmas party where employees exchanged Secret Santa presents. The manager, whose identity remains confidential, received a mug bearing an offensive sexual reference that left her feeling humiliated and distressed.
Workplace Culture Under Scrutiny
Legal documents reveal the employee complained to HR about the incident, describing the gift as "disgusting" and "completely inappropriate" for the workplace. She argues the supermarket chain failed to properly address her concerns about sexual harassment.
Employment law experts suggest this case could set an important precedent for workplace conduct during festive celebrations. "What might be dismissed as office banter can sometimes cross the line into harassment," explained one employment solicitor.
Morrisons Responds
A Morrisons spokesperson stated: "We take all complaints seriously and have robust policies in place to deal with such matters. As this is ongoing legal proceedings, we cannot comment further."
The case comes amid growing awareness of workplace harassment following the #MeToo movement, with employers increasingly scrutinising office Christmas traditions.
