Did an 'overgrown plant pot' on a desk lead to workplace racial segregation?

An employer is being sued by an employee over claims that an “overgrown plant pot” led to racial discrimination – the Evening Standard reports.

Benyam Kenbata, a manager for Westminster City Council, alleges that a colleague, who sat opposite him, put a plant pot on his desk as a form of deliberate racial segregation.  

He claims that the plant “restricted the ease with which he could hold discussions with colleagues”. HR denied this, saying, according to court documents: “[The] plant had grown too high.”

He subsequently went to an employment tribunal and made 29 allegations of direct discrimination, racial harassment and victimisation.