Elizabeth Pitt: UK social worker accused of transphobia about colleague’s ‘gender fluid’ dog wins case
A UK social worker accused of voicing transphobic opinions about a colleague’s ‘gender fluid’ dog has been awarded £55,000 by an employment tribunal.
Elizabeth Pitt took part in a Zoom call for Cambridgeshire County Council’s LGBT group in June last year, in which one participant said he dressed his dachshund in a frock to prompt a ‘debate about gender’.
She and a colleague were reported for the ‘aggressive tone’ of their ‘non-inclusive and transphobic’ comments, with one person said to be left ‘shaking in disbelief’ and another complaining it gave them ‘anxiety dreams’.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Ms Pitt, 62, was disciplined by bosses after a report found her comments had caused ‘significant offence’ as well as having a ‘detrimental impact’ on colleagues’ mental health.
She then launched legal action against the council for harassment. Awarding her £55,000, tribunal judge Paul Michell advised her bosses to update staff training to include ‘freedom of belief and speech in the workplace’.
The council admitted liability for harassment relating to Ms Pitt’s beliefs and sexual orientation, and said that it would ‘reflect carefully’ on the outcome.
