£65,000 Award for Unfair Dismissal, Racial Discrimination + more....

Apparently the British Refugee Council are now reviewing their Equality procedures after an award of £65,000 was made against the body by an Employment Tribunal. A former black employee was awarded the compensation when he along with another black worker (the only two black employees at the centre) were made redundant leaving only white staff at the Oakington immigration centre.

Emmanuel Obikwu was awarded £65,000 for unfair dismissal, racial discrimination, injury to feelings, psychiatric injury and loss of earnings. Just months before (January this year) his former co-worker, Zaina Ukwajuv, won a claim for unfair dismissal and was awarded £30,000 for unfair dismissal, victimisation and racial discrimination.

Although the Home Office's original plan to close the centre was put on hold, both were still made redundant 5 months later. The chairman of the Tribunal, at Zaina Ukwaju’s hearing, said that white staff who were less experienced were kept on over the only two black employees.The Tribunal also heard that there was a likelihod that the operations manager had shown favouritism towards his friends when selecting staff for redundancy.

With the new Equalities Bill in the pipeline, it is ever more important for businesses to ensure they have reviewed their Equalities procedures, particularly when it comes to selection for redundancies.


Disclaimer: the contents of this blog are not intended form the basis of legal advice. Independent legal advice should be taken from your own solicitor for all cases.