A Birmingham office worker has alleged that she and other female colleagues have been forced to work separately from their male counterparts.
The move has left her feeling ‘uncomfortable’ and she says that women have been left out of ‘non-official meeting decisions.’
One woman was reportedly let go after she complained about the practice, leaving the woman to question if it was at all legal.
In a post on Reddit, she asked for advice and said that most of her male colleagues were positive of the change.
She wrote: “Company got bought and new office rules have been introduced. Among these include separate work areas for men and women. It’s making me a little bit uncomfortable.
non-official meeting decisions that get made. The kinda stuff where you quickly hash something out with your colleagues.
“Someone in my team complained about it but she had her pass taken off her. She only worked 19 months in the team so apparently they could get rid of her without justification.”
In response, one person asked what kind of work is carried out in the office. They said: “What is the job, and what is their reasoning for the seating arrangements?
“If there’s no legitimate business reason, and it has the effect of shutting women out of important conversations, then that sounds like indirect discrimination.
“If your colleague were dismissed for complaining about this then that would be an automatic unfair dismissal. This is because the two year qualifying period does not apply if the reason you were dismissed is that you made a complaint about something you reasonably perceived to be discriminatory.”
She replied: “I’d rather not cite the specific sector for fear of identifying myself. We’re an office-based job in Birmingham. Think of your stereotypical modern office job. Phones, computers, spreadsheets, clients etc.
“There’s no legitimate business reason I can think of. Nor has the owner stated one. After the company got purchased we came in from the weekend to find desks rearranged and a divider separating the room.”
Other users were quick to encourage the woman to obtain legal advice.
One said: “This is bizarre. Do you have an HR department? Immediate grievance filed to them if so.
“If not, since it is senior management that has made the decision, I’d be getting straight on to Acas. Again, important to understand that it is unlawful to dismiss or otherwise punish an employee for complaining about discrimination.
“If they start doing that, affected employees are going to get a nice payday – discrimination and victimisation claims command a great deal more compensation than simple unfair dismissal claims.”
Another added: “Definitely not legal or acceptable in a professional space.
“Might be considered in a limited religious context but never in a professional setting.”
One Reddit user wrote: “If you feel you are being treated differently on the basis of gender and are therefore at a disadvantage in the workplace there is an argument in relation to the equalities act.
“However it is then on the employer to justify why they implemented such a policy and to show that is not the case.
“But this seems like a ridiculous position for any employer to take in the UK.
“You should contact Acas for a chat as I’m sure they’d be glad to go over the finer details with you.”
Source – https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/birmingham-office-separates-men-women-32941893/