A students’ union leader tried to block ‘white middle-aged men’ from opening its revamped building.
Percy Gee, the headquarters of the University of Leicester Students’ Union, was opened by the Queen in 1958.
From 2018 it was given a significant overhaul to add facilities including a new food court, and marketing manager Ellen Rudge emailed colleagues asking for ideas for high-profile figures to launch it.
In the message she said: ‘I am looking for suggestions for notable public figures the University could approach to officially open the new SU/Percy Gee Building in September.
‘I have been very vocal about the need for the person to reflect diversity i.e. not another white middle aged man…’
Ellen was warned by Ricardo Champayne, a colleague in HR that by singling out a particular group she risked being offensive and derogatory.
Ricardo, who had only worked at the SU for a month, replied: ‘Dear Ellen, I write in regard to your email seeking nomination for representative to SU.
‘I have set the matter as needing urgent attention. With all respect, I am bound by personal and legal principles to object [to] the tone of your email.
‘It is not right to speak in a derogatory way against anyone. I must highlight that diversity can be represented by any race of class.
‘I am conscious that recipients of this email potentially were offended.’
‘Upset’, Ellen considered he was alleging she was a ‘racist’, and said she felt ‘shocked and attacked’ and that her ‘integrity was questioned’.
An internal disciplinary investigation was launched which led to Ricardo’s resignation on March 4 2020.
But at the tribunal in Nottingham – at which the dad-of-six alleged he had been ‘victimised’ by the students’ union – a judge ruled it was reasonable for Ricardo to conclude that Ellen’s email on February 14 2020 was discriminatory.
Employment judge Rachel Broughton said he suffered ‘detriments’ as a result of the investigation, suspension, and grievance outcome in which he was ‘intimidated’.
He was awarded £1,048 in compensation.
As a result of the episode, Ricardo said he has ‘lost his confidence’, has been ‘significantly damaged’, and has become a ‘couch potato’ who has less energy for his children.
Around the same time, female workers had complained about ‘inappropriate’ messages from Ricardo on social media asking to be friends outside of work and he was jointly investigated for that.
Judge Broughton said he would have rightfully faced a gross misconduct investigation anyway over allegations of ‘inappropriate’ messages and ‘potential’ sexual harassment.
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