Permanent Representation of Cote d’Ivoire to International Commodity Organisations

Case No: 2202255/2019 EMPLOYMENT TRIBUNALS Claimant: Mrs A S Koffi Respondent: Permanent Representation of Cote d’Ivoire to International Commodity Organisations At: Central London Employment Tribunal (by CVP) Date: 8 July 2020 Before: Employment Judge Norris RESERVED JUDGMENT – REMEDY The Respondent is ordered to pay the Claimant the total sum of £101,853.07. REASONS Background to the claim 1. The Claimant, who was employed by the Respondent between 5 November 2014 and 31 January 2019 as an adviser, submitted a claim on 10 June 2019, complaining of unfair dismissal, discrimination because of religion or belief and/or discrimination because of sex. She was represented throughout by Mr Cormac Rice of Paul Doran solicitors. 2. The grounds of claim set out allegations of the sexual harassment of the Claimant by her manager, Mr Aly Touré, between 23 rd February and 20 December 2018. She asserted that on 20 December 2018, when she told Mr Touré that she was not interested, he threatened that if she said anything about it, she would be “done”. On 15 January 2019, the Claimant and her colleagues were informed of a budget reduction and the need for a commensurate staffing reduction. The following day, Mr Touré again propositioned the Claimant and on 17 January 2019, he told her that she would be dismissed because she continued to refuse his sexual advances. Case No: 2202255/2019 3. On 22 January 2019, the Claimant refused to sign for receipt of a letter dismissing her and felt physically threatened by Mr Touré into doing so. On 4 February 2019, Mr Touré refused to give her a copy of the letter and propositioned her once more. She eventually received a copy of the letter of dismissal at her home address on 7 March 2019. 4. Under a separate heading “Political/Philosophical Belief”, the Claimant further asserted that she was dismissed for re...