A worker has won an employment tribunal against her former employer, after he allegedly insulted her tea-making skills and labelled her a “stupid melon"
A worker has won an employment tribunal against her former employer, after he allegedly insulted her tea-making skills and labelled her a “stupid melon”.
The Sun reports that Mahbooba Shirin, a barrister, was insulted by boss Richard Bara during her employment as a paralegal.
Barca stands accused of shouting: “How f***ing difficult is it to make a f***ing cup of tea?"
Barca, of Wilson Barca LLP, was reprimanded at an earlier tribunal for reportedly calling an employee a “plonker”. When questioned, Barca admitted swearing at his employees. It was also heard that Shirin kept a diary of the alleged abuse leveled at her during her eight months at the firm.
In the diary, she claims that she was “treated like a slave”, and that Barca yelled at her for not making tea “to his liking”. Shirin resigned in 2016, claiming she could “take the abuse no further”. She was later diagnosed with depression.
Judge David Pearl ruled that Shirin was harassed due to her gender and her age – 51 – and a constructive dismissal claim was denied.
