Mrs G Pal v The Hut.com Limited — 2024

The claimant, an agency warehouse operative, brought complaints arising from an incident on 12 November 2022 involving comments allegedly made by Mr Delev. The tribunal heard evidence from the claimant, witnesses for the claimant, and witnesses for the respondent, and reached a majority judgment.

The majority found that Mr Delev told the claimant that she had no right to speak to him as she was a woman and an agency worker, and also made a further comment to her because he was annoyed that, as a woman, she had answered him back when challenged about sitting on a flatbed trolley to tie her shoelaces. The majority concluded that the comments amounted to less favourable treatment because of sex and harassment related to sex, and the respondent had not shown a non-discriminatory explanation. A minority disagreed with the factual findings about whether the comments were made.