DWP ordered to pay £400,000 for race and age discrimination

A woman will receive a payout of almost £400,000 from the Department for Work and Pensions after winning a claim for age and race discrimination. A Judge at Cardiff Magistrates Court found her colleagues at the DWP had deliberately created a “hostile environment” of racism and ageism that forced her out of work.

The woman, who is of mixed Nigerian and Welsh descent, started at the DWP branch in Caerphilly as an administration officer in 2017. However, the court heard that she was soon singled out and humiliated by colleagues, who violated her dignity through the use of racist language. When she reported her concerns, managers breached her confidence by speaking to staff about it.

It was found that a DWP official had violated her dignity by using racist language in her presence. She was also repeatedly accused of stealing ice-cream, colleagues sprayed body-spray on themselves while next to her, and breached her confidence after she reported feeling “bullied”.

After going on sick leave in March 2017, the court found she was unlawfully dismissed in October that year for being unable to return to work.

A DWP spokesperson said, “Racism is totally unacceptable and action will be taken against any staff found to be expressing such views. We take the judgment and the circumstances of this case very seriously.”

Sources: bbc.co.uk, 25 February 2020, ‘Cardiff woman wins £400k in DWP race discrimination row’, theguardian.com, 25 February 2020, ‘DWP ordered to pay former trainee £400k over racism and ageism’.