In the case of Mrs T D v Woodhaze Limited t/a Window to the Womb Mrs TD was the only medically-qualified professional at the Window to the Womb clinic in Swansea – but was made to clean despite her expertise. She moved to Britain after being recruited from Nigeria only to be forced to work extra hours as a sonographer and not allowed to take holiday dates.
A judge said bosses acted like they had “bought” Mrs TD and that “black Africans imported into the UK were here to work”.
Employment Judge Claire Sharp and the panel found she had been subjected to “humiliating, offensive and degrading” behaviour at the clinic carrying out private scans of mothers-to-be.
The Window to the Womb Group’s director of ultrasound Jeanette Clewes told an officer from the Society of Radiographers: “You have to be careful; these Africans tell lies. These Africans all have hygiene problems, it is a real problem for us to deal with.”
The Cardiff tribunal was told Mrs TD had been falsely accused of having poor personal hygiene and offensive body odour by her employers in a bid “meant to humiliate her”. Professional sonographer Mrs TD was warned that if she refused to vacuum and mop the floors after the ultrasound scans, she would be sacked and deported.
Employment Judge Sharp found the Swansea franchise owners Juliet Luporini and Anthony Woodcock had spoken to Mrs TD “in a threatening manner”.
The hearing ruled she was a victim of racial discrimination and harassment. Mrs TD resigned in November 2021 due to “unfavourable working conditions which I am no longer able to cope with”. But her bosses tried to “intimidate the claimant into staying”.
They told her she had less than 24 hours to pay nearly £6,000 as a penalty or would face “immediate court action”.
Mrs TD was awarded £33,611 by the tribunal.
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