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Stobart denies `sexist' claim
Page 8
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• Haulage giant Eddie Stobart is denying that a sexist culture exists at its Carlisle office after an allegation of sexual dis. crimination against one of its managers was accepted at at employment tribunal last week.
Customer controller Caroline Ormandy alleged that last August her manager, Paul Wood, had sworn at her in front of colleagues in an unacceptable manner. She told the tribunal that she had suffered sexist jibes, belching and swearing from some of the firm's drivers during her employment.
A spokeswoman for Stobart says: "This allegation has nothing to do with the drivers in this company. It was a complaint against one man who apologised for his behaviour at the time
"We remain confused at the finding that what Mr Wood said constitutes sexual discrimination," she adds. 'Would it have been sexual discrimination if he'd said the same thing to a male employee?"
She points out that the firm acted immediately after the incident by introducing a 'people management' course for office staff: she also says that the use of bad language in the workplace is "unacceptable".
Stobart will learn of any financial penalties resulting from the tribunal in the next two weeks. There are no financial ceilings regarding the level of fine that can be imposed for sexual discrimination.
Bob Monks, general secretary of the United Road Transport Union, warns that the Stobart case has ramifications for haulage companies throughout the country: "With the present driver shortages more firms will begin to employ female drivers. Male drivers must be heavily reminded by their bosses that sexual discrimination is as much a no-no as racial discrimination."