Female exec subject to vile sexism from boss who said 'you don't belong here, this is a man's world', slapped her bottom with a ruler and said women are a 'f***ing nightmare' wins tribunal

Daily Mail​

14-05-2025

A female executive has won a sexual harassment case after being subjected to vile sexism from a male manager, who told her: 'You don't belong here - this is a man's world'.
Angela Piromalli was subjected to a string of misogynistic remarks by Ian Jolliffe, who even slapped her bottom with a ruler, a tribunal heard.
He told her that she was only wearing tight jeans for 'attention' and claimed 'the only reason you got the job is because of the way you look'.
On another occasion, he told her that he didn't like working with women because they were a 'distraction' and a 'f***ing nightmare'.
Mr Jolliffe once flew into a 'blind rage' during a phone call and called her a 'stupid little b****.
Ms Piromalli eventually lodged a grievance against her colleague which resulted in him being subject to a written warning.
He was made redundant from the business, but, when Ms Piromalli heard he would still be carrying out some work for the company, she handed in her notice.
The employee has now won a claim of sex harassment and harassment related to sex after a judge found that she was subject to 'unwanted conduct of a sexual nature' by Mr Jolliffe.
The employment tribunal, held in Southampton, was told that Ms Piromalli started working as head of people and culture at Charles Trent in January 2022.
The vehicle recycling company has sites in both Dorset and Warwickshire.
In her first month of joining, Ms Piromalli was having a conversation with Mr Jolliffe when he told her: 'You don't belong here - this is a man's world'.
It was alleged that he went on to tell her that 'the only reason people are talking to you is because you are a woman, they are around s*** like flies'.
Ms Piromalli said Mr Jolliffe, who was site operations manager, then said: 'Also you wear tight jeans, are you trying to get attention?'.
He allegedly added: 'You know the only reason you got the job is because of the way you look?'.
She told the tribunal that the following month, she was working with Mr Jolliffe in an office when he hit her on the bottom with a ruler in front of two colleagues - who both 'gasped'.
It was heard that Mr Jolliffe then stated: 'F***, that's not on CCTV is it? Whatever you do don't tell Marc [Trent, CEO], fuck me or that really is my job over, hahaha.'
On another date in February, the pair were working together in Poole when Ms Piromalli walked into Mr Jolliffe's office to update him on a recruitment matter.
She claimed that he 'appeared agitated' and was 'fiddling with a car part'.
When Ms Piromalli told him that one of the candidates was female, he allegedly stood up and 'clenched his fists' before saying how he doesn't want women working on the yard because they are a 'f***ing nightmare'.
Ms Piromalli explained that she tried to reason with him but said that he grew more aggressive and claimed women are a 'distraction', adding: 'I told you, this is a man's world. You only got the job because of how you look, you don't f***ing know anything.'
Defending herself, Ms Piromalli told the operations manager that she was 'insulted' by his comments and 'will not tolerate this behaviour'.
Mr Jolliffe told the employee that he didn't mean to offend her and said 'it must be so hard being so beautiful' before grabbing her and hugging her.
The female employee described feeling both 'shocked and intimidated' by his actions.
On another date that month, Mr Jolliffe said in front of another manager that Ms Piromalli has 'great massage hands' and that if somebody was in pain then she could take them into the meeting room and 'feel you up'.
In response, Ms Piromalli said the comments were 'absolutely inappropriate' and she turned round and carried on with her work.
A week or so later, Mr Jolliffe went into a 'blind rage' with Ms Piromalli on the phone in which he ranted and called her a 'stupid little b****' before shouting 'f*** you' and hanging up.
On March 7, tMs Piromalli raised a grievance against her colleague and he was suspended.
A subsequent disciplinary hearing was held and Mr Jolliffe was handed a 24-month final written warning with his line management responsibilities removed.
It was heard that bosses decided not to dismiss him because he was 'deeply apologetic' and 'accepted full responsibility for his actions'.
Ms Piromalli told the tribunal that she 'lost trust' in her boss over his dealing with the grievance outcome.
In October 2022, Mr Jolliffe was made redundant and he was due to finish on November 18.
But the following December, after Ms Piromalli had been promoted to the role of head of people, she was given a 'heads up' that the business would be working with Mr Jolliffe, who was now employed elsewhere.
On January 5, she handed in her resignation and submitted a grievance due to Mr Jolliffe's 'return'.
She took the business to an employment tribunal.
Employment Judge Jonathan Gray upheld her claims of sexual harassment and harassment related to sex in relation to the various comments made by Mr Jolliffe.
The judge found that the actions carried out by the site manager were 'unwanted conduct of a sexual nature'.
Other claims made by Ms Piromalli - who now runs an Italian Deli in Dorset - were dismissed.
She will receive compensation at a later date.