MoD slammed in sexual harassment claim
by Emma
A lesbian soldier who was sexually harassed by a male colleague who pestered her for sex and claimed he could “turn her straight” was awarded almost £187,000 in compensation at an Employment Tribunal in Leeds yesterday. This included £50,000 exemplary damages and £20,000 punitive damages. The Tribunal held that it was as severe a claim of victimisation and harassment as a Tribunal could see. The treatment included imposition of disciplinary sanctions, impinging the Claimant’s mental stability and obstructing her transfer to a more suitable post and cause the soldier eventually to resign. The Tribunal also stated that the Army hierachy “paid no more than lip service to the concepts of equal opportunites and the prevention of discrimination”. Wonder if they know about our Dignity at Work resource.
See more here. The Independent article makes the point that this pay out is bigger than recent compensation payments to soldiers seriously injured on duty. Surely the point is that compensation payments to injured soldiers should be higher rather than this payment is too much. What do you think?
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How does the compensation policies for soldiers work?
Commercial companies normally insure their people and the amounts are clearly stated in their contracts as are the periods of coverage (at work/24/7; domestic/international; and exclusions - dangerous sports, pregnancy (!) etc). Of course, premiums go up for people who go underground, etc.
Equally, firms manage their premiums with tight H&S and back up their policies with contracts for airlifts, etc.
I’ve been puzzled that this issue is debated on talk shows with no facts available.
Jo said at November 28th, 2008 at 8:34 am