28 June 2023 , 14:07
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A sexist vet sued by his former receptionist for calling her “Blondie” as well as another x-rated nickname has been ordered to pay her compensation for his behaviour.
Amanda Tubby, 51, complained of being belittled and humiliated by "nightmare" boss" Mike Malone, who lived in the flat above the Essex surgery where she worked.
The 64-year-old often called his 4ft 11ins worker “blondie" or "little one," and spoke to her in a way he would not have done to a man, she claimed.
After putting up with his behaviour, which also included coming into work when off and sometimes drunk, she quit when a customer called her s*** c*** - a nickname her boss then started using.
An employment judge found the descriptions used by Malone were "belittling"Ms Tubby walked out and sued Mr Malone and his company, Hills Park Veterinary Group Ltd, at the Employment Tribunal in east London.
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She has now won the right to a payout after a judge ruled in her favour.
In her resignation letter of April 2021, she said she could not work for "a drunk and abusive boss who shows no respect for myself or my colleagues."
Ruling on the case, employment Judge Anthony Ross said the use of the term "blondie" was "belittling and patronising”.
He said: "The terms used by the second respondent (Malone) to refer to the claimant were like labels. We found that they were belittling and patronising.
"The term 'blondie' was applied to more than one female employee who was blonde, but that only magnified its effect, because it diminished the claimant's dignity as an individual.
"The term 'blondie' referred to the physical appearance of the claimant - her hair colour.
"The tribunal found this label was shorthand for a woman who was attractive in a sexual context. The use of this term was unwanted.
"This is one example of Mr Malone not having any insight into the effect of the words he used on the claimant and other female members of staff."
Ms Tubby also complained Malone would frequently put his arm around her and pull her towards him.
She would push him away and he would laugh, said the judge.
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He added: "She found his actions in this respect intimidating because he was a man over six feet tall.
“We found these actions by the second respondent were unwanted.
"The tribunal found the words used and the physical touching described by the claimant were related to her sex.
“There was no evidence a male employee would have been treated in this way; and we found a male staff member would not have been so treated."
He said the last straw for Ms Tubby came when she had to deal with an abusive client, who ranted and swore at her on the telephone, calling her a "s*** c***”..
She found it "intolerable" when Mr Malone effectively "adopted" the term, telling her: "well, you are one, aren't you?" and did not apologise afterwards for doing so.
The judge added "The tribunal found the actions of the second respondent did create an intimidating, offensive and humiliating environment - even if he failed to realise this and even though he gave no thought to the impact of his words and actions on the claimant and the female nursing and administration staff.”
The case is set to return to the tribunal in September for an assessment of the amount in damages Ms Tubby should receive.