A social worker who claimed she suffered racial discrimination at work has won her case against Leicester City Council.
The woman, who is a British national of Indian origin, was made the subject of a disciplinary investigation in January 2021 after complaints against her.
But a tribunal found there was ‘nothing of substance’ to start a disciplinary process, adding the senior manager involved would have been aware as the investigation ‘did not set out any identifiable acts of misconduct’.
In its report, the tribunal concluded that when assessing the merits of behaviour allegations against white employees, managers were slow to move to formal measures.
But in the case of the woman an investigation was quickly launched and she was suspended for something which was either at the same or lower level of other alleged misconduct.
The report said: ‘We are satisfied that race played a part in her decisions. There is no other credible explanation.’
A city council spokesperson said: ‘We are disappointed with this verdict and will be appealing against it.’
