Woman wins £37,000 after boss dismissed her menopause and called her a 'biddy'
A woman has won a £37,000 payout after her boss claimed she used her menopause symptoms as "an excuse for everything".
Karen Farquharson, who worked at the engineering firm Thistle Marine for 27 years, won substantial compensation after her boss, Jim Clark made light of her menopause and dismissed it as "aches and pains."
She suffered heavy bleeding, anxiety and brain fog as a result of the menopause, which meant she sometimes worked from home. However, company founder Jim Clark dismissed her medical problems and told her to "just get on with it," an employment tribunal heard.
After complaining to the company about the way she was treated, her access to the company accounts system was cut off and she wasn't able to work remotely anymore. In the end, the mother-of-two resigned from her role and took the firm to the tribunal.
Successful businessman Mr Clark - who had a 'pet hate' of people not turning up to work - dismissed her ordeal as 'aches and pains', an employment tribunal heard (Solent News & Photo Agency)It heard that the 49-year-old "had observed that Jim Clark had an issue with employees taking holidays or being off ill" while working at Thistle Marine, based in Peterhead, North-east Scotland.
Gales, snow and rain to batter country today with 80mph wind gusts
The tribunal also heard that the boss would "often refer to employees who were off sick as 'snowflakes'". In December 2022, Mrs Farquharson worked from home for two days, first due to heavy snow and then because of her menopausal bleeding. A day later, she arrived in the office at around 2pm.
The tribunal heard that she passed Jim Clark in the corridor, who said in a sarcastic tone: “Oh I see you’ve made it in!” (Mrs Farquharson) began to explain why she hadn’t been in the office earlier that week. She mentioned the snow and also that the day before she had heavy menopausal bleeding."
"Mr Clark gave her a disgusted look and then walked away towards the workshop. (Mrs Farquharson) was very upset and angry at his behaviour and the implication that she did not have good reason to have not been at work earlier in the week."
When she confronted him later over his actions, the panel was told he responded with: "Menopause, menopause – a’biddy [everybody] f***ing gets it, just get on wi’ it, that’s your excuse for everything."
The tribunal heard that she told him he had "no understanding" of what she was going through. She also emphasised that he didn't understand the discomfort and challenges she faced when experiencing heavy bleeding.
However, Mr Clark once more dismissively mentioned the menopause, saying: “A’biddy has aches and pains.”‘ At the tribunal, Mr Clark said the remarks were "innocent." He also suggested his former employee had created the situation so she could get money for a wedding.
Upholding Mrs Farquharson’s claims of unfair dismissal and harassment, the panel said: "Jim Clark can best be described a blunt, self-made man and successful businessman. He no doubt has many admirable qualities but empathy for others is not among them. It became clear to us…that he has little time or respect for those, unlike himself, who are not able to work as hard or without illness as he has."
Furthermore, the panel added that Mrs Farquharson "felt a deep sense of betrayal and upset at the way in which she had been treated by Jim Clark and the comments he had made", and concluded they had violated her dignity.
In total, she was awarded £37,379.56 in compensation. "The stress before the tribunal was unbelievable and I know that I have gone through it and I have won, but, I have still got this anxiety and disbelief at what they did," said Mrs Farquharson
She added: "I have lost my self-belief, I’ve got zero confidence now and am very untrusting now. It’s been a huge strain. It was the worst experience of my life." Mr Clark, I noticed with his age, didn’t like change. He didn’t like being challenged on things and he was a dinosaur."
Weather maps forecast 750-mile blizzard dropping three inches of snow next week
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
