A British woman has been awarded thousands of pounds in compensation after winning a sexual discrimination case against a Goa-origin hotel manager who made lewd advances to her while on duty.
Catherine Cook, 59, was a receptionist in the Park Hotel in Tynemouth, north England, when she became the target of unsolicited advances from Joseph Gomes, who has worked in top hotels across the globe, including India’s Clarks Amer Group.
Employment tribunal judge John Nichol awarded Cook thousands of pounds and said in his ruling: “Miss Cook’s complaint that she suffered discrimination on the grounds of her sex is well founded.
Gomes made comments to Miss Cook that she found offensive. He would not have made the same remarks to a man.”
Cook, who represented herself at the hearing because she wanted the “pleasure of shaming employers in a courtroom”, described how Gomes would accost her in secluded corridors and ask her to come to his room.
However, when Cook complained to the hotel’s Human Resources department about such comments, she was ignored.
{{/usCountry}}However, when Cook complained to the hotel’s Human Resources department about such comments, she was ignored.
{{/usCountry}}“From May 2006 to November 2007 everything was fine and I enjoyed my work and I believe I was a valued member of staff,” she told the three-man tribunal panel.