‘This is a man's world' comment was sexual harassment by boss

Telegraph

14-05-2025

A female executive has won a sexual harassment case after a male manager told her that 'you don't belong here, this is a man's world'.
Angela Piromalli was subjected to a string of other sexist comments from Ian Jolliffe, who also slapped her on the bottom with a ruler, a tribunal heard.
She has now won a claim of sexual harassment and harassment related to sex after a judge found that she was subject to 'unwanted conduct of a sexual nature'.
The employment tribunal, held in Southampton, was told that Ms Piromalli started working as head of people and culture at Charles Trent, a vehicle recycling company, in January 2022.
In her first month of joining, Ms Piromalli was allegedly told that 'you don't belong here, this is a man's world' in a conversation with Mr Jolliffe, the site operations manager.
It was alleged that he went on to tell her: 'The only reason people are talking to you is because you are a woman, they are around s--- like flies.'
Ms Piromalli said he added: 'Also you wear tight jeans, are you trying to get attention?' and: 'You know the only reason you got the job is because of the way you look?'
'Shocked and intimidated'
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 said: 'F---, that's not on CCTV is it? Whatever you do, don't tell Marc [Trent, chief executive], f--- me or that really is my job over.'
In another incident while the pair were working together in Poole, she informed Mr Jolliffe in his office that a candidate for a job was female.
He allegedly stood up and 'clenched his fists' before saying that he didn't want women working on the yard because they are a 'f---ing nightmare'.
Ms Piromalli said he grew more aggressive and said: '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.'
He then told the employee that he did not mean to offend her and said 'it must be so hard being so beautiful', before grabbing her and hugging her, the tribunal heard.
Ms Piromalli described feeling both 'shocked and intimidated'.
'Blind rage'
In another incident, Mr Jolliffe went into a 'blind rage' with Ms Piromalli on the phone, and called her a 'stupid little bitch' before shouting 'f--- you' and hanging up.
Mr Jolliffe was later suspended but bosses decided not to dismiss him because he was 'deeply apologetic' and 'accepted full responsibility for his actions', the tribunal was told.
He was made redundant in October 2022 but the business later started working with him while he was employed elsewhere, it was said.
After being informed of this, Ms Piromalli, who had been promoted to the role of head of people, handed in her resignation and submitted a grievance owing to Mr Jolliffe's 'return'.
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.
Other claims made by Ms Piromalli, who now runs an Italian delicatessen in Dorset, were dismissed.