Employment Tribunal awards £360,000 to black security manager called "slave" by white colleague. Alan Lewis comments in People Management

A black security manager was awarded over £360,000 after a London employment tribunal upheld claims of victimisation and constructive dismissal against the manager's former employer, Vigilant Security.

The tribunal heard that the complainant, Mr Assan, was referred to as a “slave” by a white colleague, found a mug with the same term in a communal workspace, and was questioned about his English skills despite speaking it impeccably.

Although most of Mr Assan's direct race discrimination and harassment claims were dismissed as out of time or insufficient, the tribunal ruled that protected complaints made in 2021 triggered unfair treatment, including suspension and exclusion.

The judgment highlighted the employer’s failure to justify its actions. Constantine Law partner, Alan Lewis, stressed that in order to avoid this "managers should be trained regularly - at least every two years it not more frequently - in equality and diversity issues".

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