The Workplace Relations Commission rejected a bank customer’s claims of disability discrimination, harassment, victimisation and failure to provide reasonable accommodation. The decision, dated 15 May 2017, found that he was not discriminated against or harassed on grounds of disability and that the bank did not fail to accommodate him.
The customer said a bank employee spoke loudly and pushed a clipboard towards him during a visit to cancel a direct debit. He said it hit his chest and fell to the ground, and that his disabled left arm made it difficult to pick up. The bank said it was busy but assigned an employee to help him complete the transaction.
The adjudication officer accepted that the clipboard may have fallen as the customer described, but found that the incident did not establish disability discrimination or harassment. The customer completed the transaction with assistance. On victimisation, the officer found he had provided no evidence of adverse treatment connected to an action protected by the Equal Status Acts.
The WRC found against the customer on all four claims under the Equal Status Acts. The decision made no monetary award.