A Muslim legal assistant has won £75,000 damages after being called 'tent 'ead' in an email sent by her boss. The comment was one of several discriminatory incidents that Saleca Parkar, 31, who wears traditional dress, including a headscarf, endured at a corporate law firm.
Mrs Parkar took her former company to an employment tribunal claiming discrimination on the grounds of her race, sex, religious beliefs and pregnancy.
The case was settled this week before evidence was aired.
But a copy of the agreement seen by the Daily Mail, shows that Stephen Jones, head of Birmingham-based Shakespeare Putsman's litigation division, admitted sending the email.
In another, Mr Jones referred to Mrs Parkar as 'Mother Theresa' - which was interpreted as another derogatory reference to her headscarf.
It was sent to the same colleague, a Muslim woman who does not wear a headscarf.
Both communications were made in 2004, six months after Mrs Parkar, a qualified but non-practising barrister, joined the firm.
The legal document also reveals that Mr Jones called Mrs Parkar - who was pregnant after having had a miscarriage the previous year - 'lazy', after she asked for help with filing rather than standing on a stool to do it herself.
The papers say: 'As a consequence, no formal risk assessment was carried out in relation to the impact of the claimant's pregnancy on her work, nor was appropriate consideration given to the claimant's request for filing support.'
Mrs Parkar, who resigned in May 2007, also claimed unfair constructive dismissal.
The tribunal was due to begin on Tuesday, in Birmingham, but was settled after a day's negotiations behind closed doors.
Mr Jones's management style is described as 'harsh' in the settlement agreement.
The sum awarded to the claimant includes £40,000 for injury to feelings, £17,500 aggravated damages, £2,500 for loss of earnings and £15,000 towards legal costs.
After the case was settled, Mrs Parkar, from Birmingham, said: 'I was saddened and extremely hurt that the firm failed not only to protect me from the discrimination but took steps to defend the claim.'
Her hurt and upset were aggravated because she was pregnant for the first time, Mrs Parkar added.
'Unfortunately, what should have been the happiest time of my life was taken away from me.
'This has had a devastating effect on myself and my family and I now wish to get my career back on track.'
She hopes there is 'never any repetition of what I have been subjected to,' she said.
Frivolus claim? I think not. This woman was legally trained and a non practising barrier. She would know the law backwards and have access to all the information required to ensure a successful claim. Just sit there and take the insults then carefully file them, cross index ,note times and dates then go for the big payout. Easy money Folks in the new sue culture Britain.
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