Here’s the story of a Belfast employee who won her religious discrimination case and was awarded £20,000 by the tribunal. 
Helen Scott worked at Stevenson & Reid’s plumbing showroom in East Belfast from 2011 to 2015.
When her line manager (one of the company directors) discovered he was due to attend a meeting in her place, he swore at Helen in front of her colleagues, and shouted “Tiocfaidh ar lá” into her face.
This Irish republican slogan means “Our day will come”. As the only Catholic employee there, Helen found the incident menacing and intimidating, and felt stunned, embarrassed, anxious and upset.
She made a formal complaint, and went on sick leave.
Although the company knew a medical certificate was on its way, they sent Helen a recorded delivery letter accusing her of breaking her contract by going off sick without notification.
The firm also initiated an investigation into customer complaints that had been made against her 6-12 months earlier.
Because her line manager used a phrase with “obvious and acknowledged sectarian significance”, the tribunal concluded that Helen had been harassed on the basis of her religious belief or political opinion.
They also concluded that she was victimised after she raised the complaint.
Because she left the company as a result of the offensive treatment she suffered, they concluded it was an unfair constructive dismissal.
What this means to you
The law protects you from discrimination. What’s more, you must not be treated unfairly, nor disadvantaged, harrassed or victimised.
If you think your employer has mistreated you based on your religion or belief (or lack of), you may be able to make a claim against them.
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