An employment tribunal has dismissed a race discrimination claim brought by a former Marks and Spencer personal assistant who alleged that an internal reorganisation plan codenamed 'Project Coffee' constituted a racist trope. The London Central Employment Tribunal ruled that the claimant's assertions were unfounded and demonstrated a significant lapse in judgment.
Tribunal Finds Claim 'Lost Touch with Reality'
Claudia Royer, who had worked as a PA at Marks and Spencer for over nine years, took the retailer to an employment tribunal alleging racial discrimination. Ms Royer claimed that 'Project Coffee' was the secretive name for an initiative to recruit more personal assistants from diverse ethnic backgrounds, which she regarded as offensive. However, the tribunal heard evidence that the codename actually referred to a structural reorganisation within the company's Foods group that had nothing to do with recruitment.
Misinterpretation of Internal Project
According to tribunal documents, Ms Royer believed she was asked to greet new appointees specifically because she was black, linking this to the alleged recruitment programme. Employment judge Anthony Snelson stated in the ruling: "Unfortunately, [Ms Royer] has become unshakably convinced by her surprising theory that there was a secret programme called Project Coffee designed to make the cohort of PAs more racially representative."
The tribunal was presented with a document about the reorganisation project that clearly displayed 'Project Coffee' at the top. M&S manager Rachel Lowe testified that Ms Royer was "quite mistaken" in her perception of the project's purpose. Judge Snelson noted that pursuing the matter even after being shown this evidence, and alleging the document was manufactured, "reflects poorly on her judgment."
Background to the Employment Dispute
The case emerged following Ms Royer's redundancy in October 2023, which resulted from the August 2023 reorganisation of personal assistants in M&S's Foods group. In the same month as her redundancy, she wrote to the CEO of Marks and Spencer with several complaints about unfair and discriminatory treatment, which was treated as a formal grievance. Her appeal against the dismissal of this grievance was unsuccessful.
Tribunal's Comprehensive Rejection
The employment tribunal dismissed all of Ms Royer's claims, including her allegation of unfair dismissal. The ruling stated that her position on Project Coffee was one "which seemed to lose touch with reality and common sense." Judge Snelson further commented: "If she was right, it would be difficult to see how its existence would constitute a detriment to [her], save perhaps in so far as its name might give offence. But in any event, we are quite satisfied that there was no such programme."
The tribunal also found no detriment in asking Ms Royer to welcome new colleagues to the organisation, regardless of their ethnic background. This comprehensive rejection of her claims underscores the tribunal's view that the allegations were without substantive foundation and based on a fundamental misunderstanding of internal company processes.
