Cleaner awarded €21,000 for sexual harassment
The Equality Tribunal has awarded damages of €21,000 to a woman who was sexually harassed by a security guard at the shopping centre where she worked.
The woman worked as a cleaner at the centre, while the security guard worked with a different firm at the same location.
The Equality Tribunal had heard how the guard made crude and sexually offensive remarks towards her and, on one occasion, pulled down her trousers and underwear and slapped her on the bottom.
A company supervisor witnesses the abuse, but said the security guard was only messing and that it was only a joke.
When the woman complained to her own employers, they denied any liability, accused her of lying and threatened to sack her if she didn't withdraw a complaint to gardaí.
The tribunal's €21,000 damages award is the equivalent of 104 weeks' salary for the woman, and is the maximum award allowable under the law for a sexual harassment complaint.
