An EasyJet cabin manager was dismissed for gross misconduct after referring to female flight attendants as 'lovely ladies' and using the aircraft's tannoy for comedy routines. Ross Barr, based in Edinburgh, faced multiple complaints over sexual and inappropriate comments, including telling a colleague he was 'staring at your ass' and remarking about brushing past her chest.
An employment tribunal heard that Barr referred to his 'more attractive colleagues' in front of passengers and made jokes about safety procedures. He admitted calling colleagues 'lovely ladies' over the tannoy and using the term 'cow juice' while serving drinks, but denied compromising safety.
Barr argued his dismissal was unfair, suggesting a gay colleague would not have faced similar complaints. However, Judge Muriel Robison dismissed his claim, ruling that EasyJet's decision 'fell within the range of reasonable responses' by the employer.
The tribunal was told Barr joined EasyJet in 2014 and was promoted to cabin manager two years later. A first complaint in August 2022 led to a final written warning for sexual harassment and bullying. A second complaint in late 2023 alleged inappropriate comments, including homophobic and transphobic remarks.
In August last year, a passenger complained after overhearing Barr say to a female crew member: 'I'm not doing anything. I'm just staring at your ass.' Barr also admitted telling the same staffer he had 'touched your boobs' after brushing past her. A new colleague complained that Barr spent 'the entire shift pretty much talking about sex or making jokes about it'.
During disciplinary proceedings, Barr described some actions as 'banter', but the airline concluded he had failed to show remorse or acknowledge the seriousness of his behaviour. The tribunal judge upheld the sacking, noting the impact on crew and customers.
