A U.K. employment tribunal has ruled that calling a man “bald” can be classified as sexual harassment.
The Guardian reports the decision, which was made by a panel of three judges, was brought forth from a complaint by Tony Finn, who sued the West Yorkshire-based British Bung Company for unfair dismissal and sexual harassment after a supervisor, Jamie King, called him a “bald cunt.”
“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 tribunal said. “We find it to be inherently related to sex.”
The finding also declared that criticizing Finn for his hairless head was “degrading,” “hostile,” and “humiliating.” According to The Telegraph, the judges themselves have also experienced hair loss.
“Of his own admission, Mr King’s intention was to threaten (Finn) and to insult him,” the judgement stated. “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 judgment continued, “The tribunal, therefore, determines that by referring to the claimant as a ‘bald cunt’, 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.”
In addition to the sexual harassment ruling, the tribunal ordered that the company dismissed Finn unfairly after being employed there for 24 years and will receive compensation as a result. The exact amount has yet to be decided by the court.
