Woman racially abused while working for West Berkshire Council awarded £15k

A black council worker who was subjected to "serious racial abuse" and faced with "dismissive" managers after she complained has been awarded £15,000.

The woman was an intervention worker in West Berkshire Council's Youth Justice Support Team when two boys inflicted the abuse in April 2024.

An employment tribunal in the summer was told authority managers inferred to the woman that "absorbing that kind of abuse simply 'went with the territory'".

A West Berkshire Council spokesperson said it "respects the findings of the tribunal and will reflect carefully on the points raised".

The worker joined the council in July 2023 before she resigned in June 2024.

When she complained to managers about the racial abuse, they were found to have focused on her response after she referred to them as "little boys".

The tribunal found she had suffered "severe provocation" and that the council "failed to recognise the seriousness and unpleasantness of the [boys'] racial abuse".

David McMullen, who helped the woman in her case as a senior organiser for the GMB union, said she was "treated horrendously in the first instance and this was further compounded by management at West Berkshire Council".

He added: "Racism has no place in society at all and certainly workers should not have to face this treatment when at work – in fact it is the job of employers to protect against such abuse."

The West Berkshire Council spokesperson added: "The safety and wellbeing of our staff is extremely important to us.

"We do not accept abuse, discrimination or harassment directed towards our employees and we are committed to supporting colleagues when incidents occur."

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Woman suffered racial harassment at work - tribunal