The WRC awarded a chef €15,000 after finding that a restaurant failed to take her complaints of sexual harassment seriously and that her resignation was reasonable. The decision was dated 9 March 2018.
The chef said a colleague subjected her to repeated unwanted sexual conduct and that managers failed to investigate properly. The restaurant’s head chef acknowledged she had complained about some behaviour, while the owner said he investigated the matter.
The adjudicator found that the restaurant did not act promptly or discipline the colleague after he admitted allegations. The owner had added the words “in jest” to two complaints, which the adjudicator said altered their seriousness and undermined the chef. She found that the chef was justified in leaving and awarded compensation for constructive dismissal.