A bookkeeper whose boss repeatedly shouted “potato” at her “in a strong Irish accent” has won more than £23k after an employment tribunal found she had been racially harassed.
Bernadette Hayes, who is Irish, said she suffered “a death by 1,000 cuts” between December 2023 and June 2024 while working for engineering company West Leeds Civils.
The company’s director, Mick Atkins, used the terms “paddy”, “stupid paddy” and “pikey”, Leeds employment tribunal heard.
A judge ruled that the “offensive and humiliating” phrases are “overtly linked to race” before awarding the claimant £20,735.91 and ordering the business to give her four weeks’ pay, amounting to £2,800.
‘Potato’ shouted ‘over and over again’
Outlining her claim, Ms Hayes said Mr Atkin “did make occasional comments about me being Irish”, adding “most in gest (sic), and whilst I knew it was wrong, I tried to accept it as humour”.
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Ms Hayes, who was 55 at the time of her employment with West Leeds Civils, said: “If we had a disagreement, he would shout ‘potato’ in a strong Irish accent over and over again.
“He done (sic) this in front of other members of staff. He would shout ‘potato’ as soon as he walked in the office without having me having even spoke to him.
“This totally eroded my self-respect and my self-esteem. It made me feel small, insecure, violated and extremely anxious.”
Ms Hayes added that a “huge change in my personal circumstances” meant “I needed my job”, adding: “I felt trapped and this added to my anxiety.”
“I used to remain quiet so as not to draw attention to myself but even this did not work. He even sent potato in a WhatsApp exchange.
“Mr Atkins further called me a gypsy/traveller due to my Irish heritage. He would constantly say that I was lusting after the travellers outside the office.”
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‘Death by 1,000 cuts’
After going on sick leave in July 2024, Ms Hayes raised a grievance about Mr Smith’s behaviour, before raising a further complaint of indirect harassment related to a protected characteristic.
In a document setting out her grievance, she said: “The last six months at this job has made me feel like I have suffered a death by 1,000 cuts.
“Due to working in a hostile and toxic environment, my GP signed me off work with work-related stress on 29 July 2024. This is after months of harassment and bullying.
“I passionately believe that this was caused by the actions of Mr Atkins (and) Mr Smith.”
Ms Hayes was later dismissed from the company.
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Employment Judge Buckley said: “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 ‘pikey’ 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.”
