Latest news with #SylviaConstance
Yahoo
2 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 Independent
3 hours ago
- The Independent
Tribunal says calling someone Karen is ‘borderline racist, sexist and ageist'
An employment tribunal says that calling someone a " Karen" is "borderline racist, sexist and ageist". The judge presiding over the case described the "pejorative" slang term as typically aimed at middle-aged white women. The ruling emerged during a hearing at Watford Employment Tribunal, where Sylvia Constance, 74, brought claims of unfair dismissal, direct race and age discrimination, and victimisation against Harpenden Mencap. The charity provides support to adults with learning disabilities. Ms Constance, who the tribunal heard is Black British, alleged she was targeted because of her race, leading to her dismissal on 13 June, 2023. Harpenden Mencap said that her dismissal was due to an "irrevocable breakdown in the relationship". The tribunal also heard that Ms Constance had previously been suspended by her bosses over claims of "emotional/psychological abuse of a tenant in your care" and "bullying and intimidation of colleagues". Christine Yates, who represented Ms 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 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 dismissed 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
4 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'.
Daily Mail
12 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Calling a middle-aged white woman a 'Karen' is a 'borderline racist, sexist and ageist slur', employment tribunal says
Calling a middle-aged white woman a 'Karen' is 'borderline racist, sexist and ageist', an employment tribunal has found. The term – used to describe a female who is perceived as entitled or excessively demanding – is 'pejorative', a judge said. The ruling came in the case of black charity worker Sylvia Constance, 74, who accused her bosses of targeting her because of her race and age. In a complaint written on her behalf, female managers at Mencap were said to have acted like the stereotypical 'Karen', having 'weaponised their privilege and more powerful position against [her]'. But employment judge George Alliott said: 'We note [the use of] the slang term "Karen", which is a pejorative and borderline racist, sexist and ageist term.' Referring to someone as a Karen began as an internet meme popularised during Covid. It suggests 'Karens' are the kind of women who demand to 'speak to the manager' to complain, and is also associated with excessive use of Facebook, being anti-vaccination and even a blonde bob haircut. The hearing in Watford was told Ms Constance joined Mencap as a support worker in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, in 2016. In 2021, Claire Wilson took over as boss of the residential home where she worked and faced 'open hostility' from Ms Constance. In October that year, Ms Wilson suspended Ms Constance over claims she had bullied residents and staff. A week later, the employee filed a grievance. The tribunal heard that in February 2022, the disciplinary process against her was terminated with no action taken. Ms Constance went off sick, and in April filed another grievance, written on her behalf by friend Christine Yates. The tribunal heard that Mencap repeatedly tried to hold a meeting into her grievance. Ms Constance refused to attend, and it was held in her absence in June. The grievance was dismissed. A year later, during which time she had not returned to work, she was sacked due to 'an irrevocable breakdown in the relationship' with Mencap. Ms Constance sued the charity for unfair dismissal, race and age discrimination and victimisation. However, all her claims were dismissed. The judge said: 'We find that the complaints levelled against [Ms Constance] were legitimate and did not constitute a targeted racist campaign against her.'
Times
19 hours ago
- Times
Calling white middle-aged women Karen ‘borders on racism'
Describing a middle-aged white woman as a 'Karen' is borderline unlawful, a judge has said amid a bitter row at a mental health charity. The slang term, used increasingly since the pandemic, refers to middle-aged white women who angrily rebuke those they view as socially inferior. Sitting in an employment tribunal, a judge has now said that the term is pejorative because it implies the woman is excessively and unreasonably demanding. Use of the term started as an internet meme. It is also associated with excessive use of Facebook, opposition to vaccinations and having a blonde bob haircut. Judge George Alliott made his remarks in a ruling on a claim brought by Sylvia Constance, a 74-year-old black charity worker who has accused bosses of targeting her because of her race and age. In what was described at a tribunal hearing in Watford as a 'trenchant' complaint, female managers at Mencap were accused of acting 'like the stereotypical Karen' by having 'weaponised their privilege and more powerful position' against Constance. 'There is also something very sordid about the way in which white, female management have facilitated racism … [and given] a misogynistic, racist view of the black complainant,' the grievance said. Alliott said the tribunal noted that Karen was 'a pejorative and borderline racist, sexist and ageist term'. Constance, who described herself as black British, joined the charity as a support worker for adults with learning disabilities in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, in 2016. She was based at a residential home that provided individual flats to 11 residents. Five years later, Claire Wilson took over as manager. The tribunal heard that on her arrival Wilson faced 'open hostility' from Constance, who 'sighed' at her, responded with one-word answers and on one occasion shouted at Wilson for 'hassling' her. The pair clashed on several occasions. The manager accused Constance of having 'blinkers on' and being 'too loud'. Wilson suspended Constance in 2021 over claims she had bullied residents and staff. A week later, while an investigation was under way, Constance filed a grievance. By the next year, Mencap managers had dropped the disciplinary process and took no action against Constance. Constance then went on sick leave and filed another grievance, written on her behalf by her friend, Christine Yates. 'The language used by Christine Yates in the document is trenchant,' the tribunal said, citing the reference to the term 'Karen'. The complaint went on to say that 'despite being reinstated', Constance had 'a significant loss of trust and confidence in Harpenden Mencap's current management structure'. It alleged that there was 'clearly a hostile environment for black staff' at the home, which made it 'unsafe' for Constance 'to return to face further victimisation'. The tribunal heard that over subsequent months managers repeatedly attempted to arrange a meeting to discuss the grievance with Constance. However, she refused to attend. A meeting was held in her absence and the grievance was rejected. Constance had failed to return to work after a year and was sacked because of 'an irrevocable breakdown in the relationship' with her bosses. That prompted legal proceedings for unfair dismissal, race and age discrimination and victimisation. The judge has now dismissed all the claims against the charity, saying that there was 'no suggestion that any of the actions of Claire Wilson were prompted by a racist sentiment'.
