Latest news with #ChristineYates
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Calling someone a Karen is 'borderline racist, sexist and ageist'
Calling someone a 'Karen' could be 'borderline racist, sexist and ageist', a tribunal has ruled. An employment tribunal judge has deemed the term which is generally targeted at middle-aged white women to be "pejorative". This ruling came about after the slang term was used in a tribunal taking place at Watford Employment Tribunal. READ MORE: Glastonbury fans say festival is 'robbing them' after seeing price of pints this year READ MORE: Warning as 'tens of millions' of ants set to swarm UK on Flying Ant Day 2025 Sylvia Constance, 74, brought claims forward of unfair dismissal, direct race and age discrimination and victimisation at Watford Employment Tribunal against Harpenden Mencap, a charity which provides support to adults with learning disabilities. Ms Constance, who the tribunal heard is black British, said that she had been targeted because of her race after she had been dismissed from her role on June 13 2023 because of an 'irrevocable breakdown in the relationship' with Mencap. The dismissal came after bosses had previously suspended Ms Constance over claims of "emotional/psychological abuse of a tenant in your care" and "bullying and intimidation of colleagues", the tribunal heard. The use of the slang term 'Karen' arose when Christine Yates, who represented Ms Constance at the tribunal, used the term in a document. The document read: "The respondents have acted like the stereotypical 'Karen' having weaponised their privilege and more powerful position against the complainant, making up and suspending the complainant for numerous fictitious infringements, and deflecting from their personal misconduct. "As egregiously, they encouraged residents under their care to do same. There is also something very sordid about the way in which white, female management have facilitated racism by colluding with white, male residents to give a misogynistic, racist view of the black complainant." But employment judge George Alliott noted the term 'Karen' to be "pejorative". Employment judge George Alliott said: "We note Christine Yates uses the slang term 'Karen', which is a pejorative and borderline racist, sexist and ageist term." The judge did not uphold Ms Constance's claims, saying that the complaints against Ms Constance were "legitimate" and " did not constitute a targeted racist campaign against her."
The Guardian
9 hours ago
- The Guardian
Calling someone a ‘Karen' is ‘borderline racist, sexist and ageist', tribunal says
Calling someone a 'Karen' is 'borderline racist, sexist and ageist', a tribunal judge has said. Employment judge George Alliott said the term, typically targeted at middle-aged white women, was pejorative. The remarks came in the case of Sylvia Constance, 74, who had brought claims of unfair dismissal, direct race and age discrimination and victimisation against Harpenden Mencap, a charity that provides support to adults with learning disabilities. Constance, who the tribunal heard is black British, said she was targeted because of her race, having been dismissed on 13 June 2023 because of an 'irrevocable breakdown in the relationship' with Mencap. Bosses had previously suspended Constance over claims of 'emotional/psychological abuse of a tenant in your care' and 'bullying and intimidation of colleagues', the tribunal heard. Christine Yates, who represented Constance at the tribunal, said in a document: 'The respondents have acted like the stereotypical 'Karen', having weaponised their privilege and more powerful position against the complainant, making up and suspending the complainant for numerous fictitious infringements, and deflecting from their personal misconduct. 'As egregiously, they encouraged residents under their care to do same. There is also something very sordid about the way in which white, female management have facilitated racism by colluding with white, male residents to give a misogynistic, racist view of the black complainant.' But Alliott said: 'We note Christine Yates uses the slang term 'Karen', which is a pejorative and borderline racist, sexist and ageist term.' The judge dismissed Constance's claims, saying that the complaints against her were 'legitimate' and 'did not constitute a targeted racist campaign against her'.
