Tribunal Rules Harassment at Mailcoach Restaurant

A tribunal has ruled that the behavior of Wejdi Moussa, a manager at the Mailcoach restaurant in South Lanarkshire, amounted to harassment against a female employee, Almussawi. The hearing revealed that the harassment began during Almussawi's job interview when Moussa made inappropriate comments about her appearance, specifically stating she had the "prettiest eyes" he had ever seen. This unsettling behavior continued into her first shift, where Moussa took her into his office to adjust her clothing and insisted on putting a radio on her, despite her objections. The tribunal heard that Moussa's actions were not isolated incidents. Almussawi expressed her discomfort to other staff members, indicating that she felt threatened by Moussa's behavior. He reportedly warned her to be cautious after overhearing her discussions about his conduct, which contributed to her growing anxiety about returning to work. Almussawi's concerns escalated to the point where she felt scared when leaving the restaurant. After taking time off for exams, Almussawi reached out to Moussa for shift availability but received no response. The tribunal ultimately concluded that Moussa's repeated winking and other behaviors were unwanted and constituted harassment. Judge Peter O’Donnell emphasized that Almussawi did not encourage Moussa's conduct and actively discouraged it, yet he persisted, leaving her feeling "worried and scared." The ruling highlights the importance of addressing workplace harassment and the impact it can have on employees.