Vodafone | 'Humiliating' treatment of gay worker highlights LGBT+ concerns for HR

A Vodafone worker who was subjected to comments about her sexuality by staff, including a manager, has been awarded £30,000 at an employment tribunal.

The employee, a gay woman identified only as Ms C in legal documents, sued one of the telecom’s firms franchisees, Thistle Communications (which has since gone into liquidation), over claims that senior staff “humiliated” her and caused “irreparable damage” with sexually explicit questions such as “"how do lesbians have sex?” in addition to stating they thought her sexual orientation was “a waste”.

On other occasions, she was told “I don’t think LGBT should be taught in schools” and that she looked “like a normal lassie”.

The situation unfolded in Scotland, but the exact outlet was not disclosed to maintain the victim’s anonymity.