Claimant v Secretary of State for Justice
Outcome
Individual claims
The tribunal found that the complaint of breach of contract was not well founded and dismissed the claim, though specific reasoning for the dismissal was not provided in this judgment summary.
The tribunal found that the complaint of direct sex discrimination was not well-founded and dismissed the claim, indicating that the claimant did not establish less favourable treatment on the ground of her sex.
The tribunal found that the complaint of victimisation was not well-founded and dismissed the claim, suggesting that the claimant did not establish that she was subjected to a detriment because of doing a protected act.
The tribunal found that the complaint of harassment related to sex was not well-founded and dismissed the claim, indicating that the conduct complained of did not meet the statutory test for harassment.
The tribunal found that the complaint of indirect sex discrimination was well-founded and succeeded, indicating that the respondent applied a provision, criterion or practice that put women at a particular disadvantage which could not be objectively justified.
The claimant brought claims of less favourable treatment as a part-time worker. The tribunal found that the claim relating to not being allowed to work from home during 5-11 July 2024 was well-founded and succeeded, but the remaining part-time worker complaints failed.
Facts
Ms Alakija, a part-time employee working for the Ministry of Justice, brought multiple claims including discrimination and part-time worker detriment. The key issue related to her not being allowed to work from home during the period 5-11 July 2024, along with various other complaints of less favourable treatment and discrimination on the grounds of sex.
Decision
The tribunal dismissed the claims of breach of contract, direct sex discrimination, victimisation, and harassment. However, it upheld the claim of indirect sex discrimination and one specific complaint under part-time worker regulations relating to the refusal to allow home working from 5-11 July 2024. The claimant was awarded £8,000 for injury to feelings plus interest.
Practical note
Part-time worker protection claims can succeed on narrow factual grounds even where broader discrimination claims fail, and a lower band Vento award may be appropriate where only one or two discrete acts of discrimination are established.
Award breakdown
Vento band: lower
Legal authorities cited
Statutes
Case details
- Case number
- 6020483/2024
- Decision date
- 3 October 2025
- Hearing type
- full merits
- Hearing days
- 4
- Classification
- contested
Respondent
- Name
- Secretary of State for Justice
- Sector
- central government
- Represented
- Yes
- Rep type
- barrister
Claimant representation
- Represented
- No