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An Irish woman whose boss repeatedly shouted “potato” at her when they disagreed at work has been awarded £23,000 in a harassment payout.
While employed as a bookkeeper at a civil engineering company in Leeds, Bernadette Hayes, who was 55 at the time, faced a “hostile, humiliating, and offensive” environment due to comments made about her race by her employer, Mick Atkins, employment judges ruled.
Mr Atkins, the company director at West Leeds Civils Ltd, would shout “potato” at her in a strong Irish accent “over and over again”, as well as using language like “paddy”, “stupid paddy” and “p*key” in front of her, the tribunal was told.
Ms Hayes described the behaviour, which took place over six months from the end of 2023, as making “me feel like I have suffered a death by 1,000 cuts”.
The tribunal heard Mr Atkins had previously, occasionally, made reference to her race, but that his behaviour ramped up after another man, Marcus Smith, joined the company.
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Bernadette Hayes said her boss would shout ‘potato’ at her whenever they had a disagreement (Alamy/PA)
Ms Hayes said she would feel “physically sick” when walking into the office and “dreaded” being mocked by the pair. She repeatedly told her boss she did not find the comments funny, but said she was “afraid” to ask him to stop because he was an “intimidating, volatile character”.
“This totally eroded my self-respect and my self-esteem,” she told the tribunal. “It made me feel small, insecure, violated and extremely anxious. It also made me feel embarrassed.”
On a small number of occasions, Ms Hayes did “join in” or refer to herself as a potato, but did so “in an attempt to make light” of the issue, employment Judge Sophie Buckley found.
According to case documents, Ms Hayes had to be signed off work in July 2024 after experiencing panic attacks and being unable to eat or sleep due to stress over the behaviour.
“From a subjective point of view, it clearly created a hostile, humiliating and offensive environment for her,” Judge Buckley found. “In my view, taken as a whole, it is reasonable for an individual of Irish heritage to find the repeated use of the terms ‘potato’, ‘Paddy’, ‘stupid Paddy’ and ‘p*key’ offensive and humiliating.
“These phrases are overtly linked to race, particularly when considered together rather than in isolation. On that basis, I find that the conduct was linked to race.”
Ruling at the Leeds Employment Tribunal, Judge Buckley allowed the claim of race harassment and victimisation in part, but dismissed the claim of race discrimination.
Ms Hayes was awarded £23,526 compensation, including £13,000 in “injury to feelings” and £6,104 related to loss of earnings.