A former employee of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) in Belfast has settled an age and disability discrimination case for £150,000.
The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, had worked for PWC for more than 40 years. While in her role as an executive support assistant, she experienced a senior colleague raising concerns about her knowledge of new technology and said she was asked if training was something she was interested in at her age.
She said she was also told that, because of her length of service, she was just working towards her pension, and that she looked tired and should consider taking time off for caring responsibilities.
The woman submitted a formal grievance, stating that she felt stunned and upset by unfair and discriminatory remarks. She claimed this led to unjustified performance criticisms by senior colleagues, despite having received strong performance reviews.
An internal grievance investigation took place, concluding she had experienced harassment but that it did not amount to unlawful age and disability discrimination. Supported by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, she tried to appeal the decision, but this was unsuccessful.
The case was settled without admission of liability and as part of it, the claimant ended her employment with PWC.
A PWC spokesperson said: “We are very sorry for the experience this employee had towards the end of what was a successful career. We’re committed to creating an inclusive and supportive workplace, where everyone is supported in their learning and personal development. We know there is always more that can be done and will continue to look for areas for improvement.”
Geraldine McGahey, chief commissioner at Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, added: “This long-serving employee believes her age and caring responsibilities became an issue for her employer, leading to this situation. In Northern Ireland, it is unlawful to discriminate against employees because of their age. Older workers bring valuable experience, skills, and insight to the workforce. All employees, regardless of their age, deserve to be treated with dignity and respect in the workplace.”
