Tribunal rules that calling a man 'bald' in the workplace in sexual harassment

An employment tribunal has ruled that calling a man 'bald' in the workplace is sexual harassment.According to Sky News, a man called Tony Finn said that he was a victim of sexual harassment when someone in his former workplace (West Yorkshire-based British Bung Company) made comments about his lack of hair.Tony, who worked as an electrician at the company for 24 years before being fired in May 2021, claimed that the factory supervisor called him a 'bald c***' during an argument in 2019.Mr Finn told the panel: "I was working on a machine that I had to cover awaiting specialist repair.The covers were taken off, and it was apparent that Jamie King had done this."When I spoke to him about it, he began to call me a stupid bald c*** and threatened to deck me."

Mr King is reportedly 30 years younger than Mr Finn.

The tribunal ruled that the insult was a form of discrimination due to baldness being more common in men than women.They said: "In our judgment, there is a connection between the word 'bald' on the one hand and the protected characteristic of sex on the other."[The company's lawyer] was right to submit that women, as well as men, may be bald.However, as all three members of the tribunal will vouchsafe, baldness is much more prevalent in men than women."We find it to be inherently related to sex."They added: "Mr King made the remark with a view to hurting the claimant by commenting on his appearance which is often found amongst men."The tribunal, therefore, determines that by referring to the claimant as a 'bald c***', Mr King's conduct was unwanted, it was a violation of the claimant's dignity, it created an intimidating environment for him, it was done for that purpose, and it related to the claimant's sex."