Man called a Fenian by colleagues gets £12,5000 payout in sectarian harassment claim

p A man who suffered a data-content-type=section-topic data-link-tracking=InArticle|Link href=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/all-about/sectarianismsectarian/a harassment, including being called a #x2018;Fenian#x2019; by colleagues, has received a #xA3;12,500 payout from the Housing Executive. /p pHugo Elliott was sent messages on his phone wishing him a #x2018;Happy King Billy#x2019;s Day#x2019; and, while he was at work, his van was draped with a Union flag./p p He settled the sectarian harassment case against his employer, the a data-content-type=section-topic data-link-tracking=InArticle|Link href=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/all-about/northern-irelandNorthern Ireland/a Housing Executive, after being supported by the Equality Commission. /p p/ p/ p Our sister title a data-link-tracking=InArticle|Link href=https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/belfast-news/ni-news-man-called-fenian-19374883Belfast Live reports/a that Mr Elliott, who worked for the Executive as a plasterer since 2013, alleged that he suffered sectarian harassment while working in Coleraine as a plasterer in the Direct Labour Organisation with the NIHE. /p pIn his application to the Tribunal, Mr Elliott provided details of the alleged harassment including the allegation Catholics were referred to as #x2018;Fenians#x2019; and by other derogatory terms./p pThe Commission yesterday said that in July 2018, he was sent messages on his phone wishing him a #x2018;Happy King Billy#x2019;s Day#x2019; and, while he was at work, his work van was draped with a Union flag./p pHugo Elliott said: #x201C;I regret that it had to come to this. I have experienced sectarian insults, foul language and some very intimidating behaviour. It was an awful time, it was hurtful and it was wrong, and it badly affected my health. I had to challenge it./p p#x201C;I asked for help, I reported my concerns but they weren#x2019;t dealt with. The whole experience wore me down. I know other colleagues were shocked by what they witnessed. I raised a grievance about my treatment in April 2019 and I did not receive the outcome of this until December 2019. I was off work during this time as a direct result of the harassment./p p/ p#x201C;I just wanted to go to work and do my job. My religion has no bearing on my ability to be a plasterer and in the end the stress of it all made me ill.#x201D;/p pGeraldine McGahey, Chief Commissioner of the Equality Commission added: #x201C;Sectarian harassment is not acceptable. There is no place for harassment of any type in our workplaces; everyone is entitled to be treated with dignity and respect at all times./p p#x201C;Employers have a responsibility to provide and promote a good and harmonious working environment. They should have procedures and policies in place to allow them to deal promptly and seriously with complaints of discrimination or harassment./p p#x201C;Employees should know how to raise any concerns about harassment and know that their concerns will be taken seriously and it is equally as important that managers are trained accordingly to deal with these concerns./p p#x201C;We can assist employers with advice and template policies to help them ensure they are creating a safe and welcoming space which is free from discrimination and harassment for all their employees.#x201D;/p pA Housing Executive spokesperson said they #x201C;can confirm that it recently settled a claim by a current employee regarding alleged religious harassment#x201D;./p pThey added: #x201C;While the claim was settled on a compromise basis, without admission of liability, the Housing Executive has recognised that there were issues around its handling of the complaint./p p#x201C;The Housing Executive has expressed its regret to the employee involved. #x201C;The Housing Executive does not tolerate harassment in the workplace of any kind and is currently reviewing the case in order to identify areas for improvement and any further actions that may be required./p p#x201C;The Housing Executive continues to be committed to ensuring a harmonious working environment where all of its employees feel valued and respected.#x201D;/p