'Shocked & offended' | Worker who claimed boss called him 'old git' loses age discrimination case

A worker who claimed he was repeatedly mocked about his age - including an alleged “old git” by a company director - has lost a tribunal claim for age discrimination, harassment and victimisation against his employer.

Ashok Ahir, who worked as an internal audit assistant at the family-run jeweller F Hinds, reported that he was subjected to age-related slights and forced out of his job after raising a grievance. However, the tribunal found his claims were “not well-founded” and dismissed the case in its entirety.

Director allegedly called claimant 'old git' at dinner

Ahir told the tribunal that the remark occurred during a work trip to Shropshire in March 2023 - when he was 60 years old. While dining with colleagues at a hotel, director Jeremy Hinds (described in the tribunal report as “aged approximately 30 to 40”) allegedly responded to a story Ahir shared by saying, “Ash, you old git.”

“I was shocked, offended and humiliated by this comment since Jeremy was belittling me because of my age in front of other colleagues,” Ahir said in written evidence.