Salesman wins claim over office 'culture' of derogatory language about Travellers

A salesman from the Travelling Community has won compensation of €7,500 at the Workplace Relations Commission following findings of workplace discrimination at a Longford manufacturing firm. The worker left his position in the sales office of CPF (Profiles) Ltd after two-and-a-half weeks in June 2024, stating he had overheard the managing director use derogatory language about Travellers on multiple occasions. Adjudicator Anne McElduff found that a culture of tolerance existed within the respondent workplace regarding such terminology. The tribunal also determined that questioning at the worker's interview about his family connections appeared designed to establish whether he was a member of the Travelling Community. The managing director acknowledged he may have used certain language but denied discriminatory intent. Ms McElduff upheld the discrimination complaint under the Employment Equality Act 1998, awarding compensation equivalent to approximately nineteen weeks' wages.