Calling women birds amounts to sexual harassment

A judge has ruled that referring to women as "birds" in the workplace constitutes sexual harassment. This decision was made in a case involving a whisky barrel investment company, which has been ordered to pay over £50,000 in compensation to a female employee who raised concerns about her colleagues' behavior.

Nina Chung testified at an employment tribunal that her coworkers at Whisky 1901, located across from Harrods in Knightsbridge, London, frequently used the term "birds" for women and bragged about their "sexual conquests." She also reported being questioned about her plans for pregnancy and faced an incident where a colleague locked her out of the office.

Employment Judge Pavel Klimov determined that Chung's allegations amounted to sexual harassment. After resigning from Whisky 1901, she successfully sued for discrimination, sexual harassment, victimization, and breach of contract.

The tribunal hearing in central London revealed that these incidents occurred between August and November 2022. Judge Klimov noted the employees' derogatory comments about women and their boastful attitudes regarding sexual achievements.

Whisky 1901 has announced plans to appeal the ruling. A company spokesperson stated, "We followed the appropriate grievance and disciplinary processes regarding this matter, including seeking independent advice from a reputable HR consultancy."

EandK

Rusholme Solicitors