London General Transport Services was found guilty of harassment, discrimination and constructive unfair dismissal, after a female bus driver employee lodged a grievance about multiple counts of sexual harassment from her majority-male team, only to be told by her union rep the culprits were “probably joking”, and that she should lie about her relationship status to avoid future incidents. She was told that the drivers who had spoken sexually to her were “joking”, and suggested she “deter prospective harassers by saying that she was pregnant or married”.
She resigned from her post in September 2017, having never returned from a period of sick leave, and the tribunal upheld her claim of constructive unfair dismissal.
London General Transport Services was ordered to pay a total of £55,167.20, broken down into a financial award of multiple damages – including those for sex discrimination and unfair dismissal – of £23,612.89, and an award for injury to feelings for sex discrimination of £17,000.