A Muslim-run company have been ordered to pay a Christian worker over £2,000 – for racially discriminating against him because he is WHITE.
Christopher Turton, 31, was subjected to a hate-filled email after being employed as one of only two white workers at the company alongside 300 other Muslims.
The furious email, sent after Mr Turton was promoted to National Concessional Manager, suggested he had only been promoted because he was “white”.
In an email sent between an employee and a self-employed worker which was seen by Mr Turton, it questioned if Mr Turton had been favoured in landing his new role, asking: “Is it because he is white?”
It also pointed out he was not a ‘Muslim brother’ and added: “Allah is the provider”.
Bizarrely, the worker also claimed Mr Turton was only employed by the company to impress customers.
Mr Turton, from Halesowen, West Mids., was awarded £2,500 at an employment tribunal in Birmingham after seeking compensation from the Halal Food Group for race and religious discrimination.
The firm supplied goods to supermarkets and other outlets and Mr Turton introduced changes in a move to boost income.
But the changes were not wholly welcomed, said Mr Sonny Jagpal, representing the respondents.
Mr Jagpal said: “The firm’s management disapproved of the email and arranged a face-to-face meeting with those involved and issued an apology, those who sent the email have also apologised.”
Tribunal judges heard that Mr Turton found the email “extremely offensive” – causing him to sign off work with stress and eventually resign from the company.
Tribunal judge Miss Victoria Dean said Mr Turton had found the email racist and offensive and said there had been an injury to his feelings.
She initially awarded him £3,000 but this was reduced to £2,550 because he had failed to lodge an official grievance to the firm.
Miss Dean recommended the company issue instructions to the workforce and team leaders, within six months, about equal opportunities policies.
Christopher’s mum Mandy Turton, 54, revealed her son was a ‘private person’ who had even kept his own family in the dark about the employment tribunal.
Mandy, who lives with her husband Andrew, 56, and Christopher in Halesowen, West Mids., said: “He is a private person so he didn’t share anything with us.
“I didn’t know anything about it until last week. Chris is like this, he doesn’t like me or his dad to worry about him.
“But it is appalling how he has been treated. He loved that job and it isn’t right that he was forced to leave.
“He has a son to provide for and he was hounded out of this job – I thought he had been quieter than usual recently.
“But he hasn’t really let the strain of the case show. Not in front of us any way.
“It’s a disgrace really – if it was the other way around then people would be up in arms about it.
“I know he has got the money now but it has changed his life and forced him to leave a job he enjoyed.
“If he had his choice I’m sure he would have happily stayed there. He seemed quite content when he first started working.
“He has always been a hard-working boy even throughout his school life – he didn’t deserve to be treated like this.
“It’s a shame he felt the need to keep it from us – but I’m glad to see justice has been served.”
