BELFAST, July 29  –  A gay man in Northern Ireland has won his case against his former employer over discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation.

In the first-ever settlement in Northern Ireland, Paul Hindley will receive £6,000 in compensation from his former employer, Fannin Healthcare Ltd..  The company has also agreed to liase with the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland in order to review and develop its equality policies and procedures.

The case was brought to the Commission.

“Since the law changed in December 2003 people who face discrimination in their employment on grounds of sexual orientation have the right to challenge that treatment in a Tribunal,” Dame Joan Harbison, Chief Commissioner of the Equality Commission, said this morning.

“People like Mr. Hindley, who are prepared to take a stand against discriminatory behaviour can help bring about change, not only for their own situation, but for other people in similar circumstances.”

Thirty year old Mr. Hindley, who was employed in sales, complained that he had been forced to resign as a result of severe verbal harassment on the grounds of his sexual orientation.  He also alleged that the Company failed to deal effectively with his complaint of discrimination.

The Company, in addition to compensating him, has affirmed its commitment to safeguarding the rights of all employees irrespective of gender, religious belief, political opinion, race and/or sexual orientation, to work without intimidation or harassment.  They have agreed to liaise with the Equality Commission to review and develop their equal opportunities policies and procedures within a timescale agreed with the Commission.

“Employers have a responsibility to ensure that their employees do not discriminate on the grounds of sexual orientation.” Dame Harbison said. “Employers need to be proactive and put appropriate policies and procedures in place to ensure that no employee is subjected to harassment of this nature.  Where complaints of such harassment are brought to the attention of management they should be dealt with according to procedure in an effective and timely manner.”

The Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003, introduced in December 2003, makes it unlawful to discriminate on grounds of sexual orientation in employment and vocational training.  They prohibit direct discrimination, indirect discrimination, victimisation and harassment.

Sexual orientation is defined in the Regulations as meaning a sexual orientation towards persons of the same sex, persons of the opposite sex, or to both persons of the same sex and of the opposite sex.

Employees who work in Northern Ireland and believe that they have been subject to discrimination on the grounds of their sexual orientation in connection with their employment can contact the Commission for free and confidential information and advice (Tel: 02890 500600). 

Information on the rights of gays, lesbians, and bisexuals in the workplace, and on the measures employers should be taking in order to prevent sexual orientation discrimination, can also be down loaded from the Commission’s website: www.equalityni.org