Boss ‘subjected staff to constant sexist abuse’ (From Wiltshire Times)

Boss ‘subjected staff to constant sexist abuse’

4:37pm Friday 16th December 2005 in Corsham By David Giles

A BOSS subjected a female office worker to a torrent of sexist abuse, a tribunal heard this week.

Robert Clarke, the managing director of the telecommunications firm Fokus Systems, in Box, would slap the worker's bottom and nicknamed himself "the lord and master".

Maria Maniglia, 40, said she was sacked after walking out in disgust and is now suing the company for sex discrimination and unfair dismissal.

She told an employment tribunal in Bristol on Tuesday: "I tolerated it every day from nine to five.

"Mr Clarke used to put his head on my breasts on more than one occasion. And he used to slap my bum on its left cheek.

"And Mr Clarke undid my bra strap when I lent over the desk with my back to him. I had to use my cardigan to cover up my left breast before I could get to the toilets.

"I used to call him a pervert, which he didn't like. He called me a fat, fiery Sicilian bitch.

"He would call himself the lord and master and call people his bitches and minions. I used to go home crying because of it."

Giving evidence, Mr Clarke said: "Those things never happened. The only time I had any physical contact with Maria was when I gave her a hug but there was never any physical contact between us at all.

"I admit sometimes calling people bitches, but that was male employees as well as female employees.

"It was just harmless office banter between colleagues and was never supposed to be derogatory in any way."

A second office worker also described how Mr Clarke subjected her to lewd comments and behaviour.

Emma Dodds, 23, said he even opened a bathroom door while she was on the toilet as part of a practical joke.

She also claimed her boss made sexist comments about her figure when she became pregnant.

She said: "He commented that my bum was getting fatter and that my boobs were growing, the comments were a constant occurrence.

"I received a dirty phone call from Rob Clarke and I was sacked because I wouldn't participate in that phone call," she said.

Summing up, tribunal chairman, Robert Miles said: "It is our intention to meet next week to decide this case and we will let you know the outcome in the New Year.

"I'm sorry to say that it has been an upsetting case but cases like this often are.

"It is not an easy case for the tribunal to decide because of the direct conflict in evidence. But we shall do our best to decide on that evidence."