In Nixon v Royal Mail Group Limited, Ms Nixon (N) is a driver, whose line manager was Mr Mistry (M). An ET upheld N’s claim of sexual harassment related to sex in respect of two incidents: (1) where M had pulled her hair and (2) stated that she should be “back at home and in the kitchen”. With regard (1), the ET stated that “… the reality is that boys pulling girls’ hair has been an act of sexual harassment since most of us were children in the playground … therefore this particular effort at creating discomfort or humiliation was clearly related to gender”. As for (2), Royal Mail conceded that the reference to N being at home and in the kitchen clearly relates to her gender and that this was an act of harassment. The ET awarded N £2,600 compensation for injury to feelings.

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