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Calling women 'honey' is degrading, judge rules, as female security guard wins sexism claim

Peta Jessemey won almost £11,000 in a sexism claim after her 'patronising' boss kept calling her 'honey
Peta Jessemey won almost £11,000 in a sexism claim after her 'patronising' boss kept calling her 'honey

Calling women 'honey' is "degrading" and "patronising", an employment judge has ruled after a female security guard won a sexism claim against her former boss.

Peta Jessemey claimed she was singled out by her manager, Rod Tolmie, who was described as "bullying and belittling" towards her while she worked for Lodge Services security firm.

An employment tribunal heard Mr Tolmie, a Royal Military Police Officer, reduced Ms Jessemey’s hours of work as "she was a woman" and repeatedly talked over her.

Ms Jessemey, 43, also told the hearing she was repeatedly called 'honey' while working at the firm, which provides guards to retailers such as Superdrug.

But Mr Tolmie insisted his use of 'honey' was a product of his Northern Irish heritage and his military background.

The 43-year-old won almost £11,000 after a judge ruled she was a victim of unfair dismissal, harassment and direct sex discrimination from Lodge Services.

Employment judge Martin Warren said: "Addressing women as 'honey' is patronising, demeaning and degrading.”

"It was clear from Mr Tolmie's evidence, cutting through some of his very long and rambling answers, that his attitude was that female security officers, be they store detectives or security guards, were more vulnerable than their male colleagues."

Ms Jessemey had worked at Superdrug stores in Colchester and Clacton, Essex, and Ipswich, Suffolk, from 2012 to 2014, while Mr Tolmie was her area manager and in charge of 100 staff. When Ms Jessemey was assaulted in 2013 Mr Tolmie made a 'disdainful' comment about female security guards, the tribunal in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk heard.

Mr Tolmie had repeatedly asked her if she thought a male guard would be better suited and even made clandestine visits to stores she worked at to try and convince their managers they would be better off without her.

It was also claimed he blocked Ms Jessemey from having a pay rise and threatened her with police action after she asked about travel pay.

Ms Jessemey launched legal action against Lodge Services on the grounds of unfair dismissal, harassment and direct sex discrimination after she resigned from her job.

She has now been awarded £10,906.

Speaking after the tribunal Ms Jessemey said: "I am glad that I won. I know I was not the only person to be treated this way and felt that I had to speak out."