A 21 year old worker suffered direct age discrimination after his manager called him a “little boy”.
Facts
Mr Kisitu began working for Inclusive Care Support Limited as a Support Worker in August 2016. He provided support for individuals with mental health and/or learning disabilities. This was his first job and he was 19 years old when he began working.
On 3 August 2017 Mr Kisitu had an altercation with his line manager, Mr Gardner. Having just had his birthday Mr Kisitu was 21 years old. During this altercation, Mr Gardner was verbally abusive. In particular, Mr Gardner, who was 37, called him “f***ing stupid kid” and said “you are a little kid in fact a boy” and “I have the power to get you fired so keep your mouth quiet little boy”.
Mr Kisitu submitted a formal grievance to complain about this. Mr Kisitu was later dismissed in December 2017 after a lengthy period in which his employment status with Inclusive Care Support was uncertain.
He brought a claim of direct age discrimination and harassment in relation to the treatment by Mr Gardner, and a victimisation claim in relation to the lengthy period of uncertainty regarding his employment. At the hearing Mr Kisitu also referred to other occasions on which Mr Gardner had called him names prior to 3 August 2017, including an occasion in May 2017 when he made it clear to Mr Gardner that his conduct was unwanted.
Decision
The Employment Tribunal (ET) upheld Mr Kisitu’s claims of direct age discrimination, harassment and victimisation.
There was some dispute as to the facts, but the ET preferred the evidence of Mr Kisitu. As such, the ET saw this as a clear and obvious case of direct age discrimination. In verbally abusing Mr Kisitu, using insults directly related to Mr Kisitu’s age, Mr Gardner was clearly treating Mr Kisitu less favourably. No justification was offered so the direct age discrimination claim was upheld. The ET also held that the insults constituted age-related harassment.
The ET further held that there followed a lengthy pattern of victimisation as a result of Mr Kisitu’s grievance. The ET also upheld Mr Kisitu’s race discrimination claim.
The full judgment is available here.
Mr S Kisitu v Inclusive Care Support Ltd: 3200241/2018