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A woman has compromised sexual harassment Case against a former employer after she was “slapped down” by a male supervisor.
Jayla Boyd settles her case against her former employer, JD Sports Fashion Plc, for £65,000.
The Company acknowledged and apologized for the significant distress, distress and hurt feelings experienced by Ms. Boyd.
He worked part-time in a belfast Store while she studies for her A-Levels. During this time she said that a male supervisor had slapped her from below.
Ms Boyd said she reported the incident to her manager that day and was told CCTV had captured the incident. However, the supervisor was allowed to continue working with him for the rest of the shift.
She said that during that time he came to her twice to talk to her and apologized for what he had done, explaining that it was “muscle memory”.
Ms Boyd lodged a complaint of sexual harassment, but claims that although she gave a written statement, she was not formally interviewed about her experience.
She said she felt upset and distressed that her employer failed to support her after the incident, so she used some annual leave to take time off from her job.
When she returned to work, she said no return-to-work meeting was held, and she was not updated about the investigation or outcome of her complaint.
Ms Boyd also claims that her personal information relating to the incident was viewed by other employees on a manager’s computer.
She said she experienced more embarrassment during a staff training session when an example of a supervisor slapping a woman on the bottom was discussed, and she felt this example related to her own experience.
She later resigned from her job and said she hoped that by speaking out she would encourage others to challenge such behavior.
She said, “Like most A-level students, I was working a part-time job to make some money. I never thought this would happen to me.”
“The initial incident was embarrassing, but it was made worse because I felt like they were trying to ignore what had happened to me rather than properly deal with it.
“I had to keep working with this male supervisor because he sexually harassed me.
“Everyone deserves to feel safe and supported at work.
“I hope that by speaking out I can give others the confidence to challenge this type of behaviour.”
Ms Boyd was supported in her case by the Equality Commission northern ireland,
Chief Commissioner Geraldine McGahee said employers should have clear policies and procedures in place to deal with harassment.
“Employers’ zero-tolerance approach towards sexual harassment in the workplace will remind everyone how seriously any incident will be dealt with if it comes to light,” she said.
“To prevent this, employers should ensure that all employees know what behavior is acceptable and what is unacceptable in the workplace.
“Employers should have clear policies and procedures for dealing with harassment, and managers should be trained to use them appropriately. This type of behavior should be thoroughly investigated, with complaints dealt with sensitively and in a timely manner.”
In a statement, a spokesperson for JD Sports Fashion said the company apologizes unreservedly to Ms Boyd.
“We apologize unreservedly for the tremendous distress this has caused Ms Boyd,” he said.
“This incident occurred in July 2024 and was immediately addressed in line with our policies.
“The individual involved is no longer employed by the company.
“We work hard to create an environment where all colleagues are treated with dignity and respect in the workplace, and while we have already made some changes to our processes, we welcome the opportunity to liaise with the Equality Commission to review our policies, practices and procedures.”