A Christian has been awarded £2,500 compensation after complaining he was targeted by a “racist” email while working at a Birmingham halal meat firm.
Christopher Turton was one of only two white workers at the National Halal Food group in Harborne Road, Edgbaston, and worked alongside up to 300 Muslims.
He had been promoted to National Concessional Manager for the company when the email was sent between fellow employees.
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It questioned if Mr Turton had been favoured in landing his new role, asking: ‘‘Is it because he is white?’’ and also pointed out he was not a ‘Muslim brother’.
A Birmingham tribunal was told the works manager, of Hasbury, Halesowen, had introduced changes to boost income at the company, which supplied halal meat to supermarkets and other outlets.
But the changes were not wholly welcomed, said Mr Sonny Jagpal, representing the respondents.
He said the email had been sent between an employee and a self-employed worker and had not been condoned by the company.
“The firm’s management disapproved of the email and arranged a face-to-face meeting with those involved and issued an apology,” said Mr Jagpal.
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“Those who sent the email also apologised.”
The tribunal was told that Mr Turton found the email “extremely offensive” and was made to feel alienated. He was off work with stress and eventually resigned.
He took the company to tribunal, seeking compensation for race and religious discrimination.
Tribunal judge Miss Victoria Dean said Mr Turton had found the email racist and offensive and said there had been an injury to his feelings.
She initially awarded him £3,000 but this was reduced by 15 per cent to £2,550 because he had failed to lodge an official grievance to the firm.
Miss Dean recommended the company issue instructions to the workforce and team leaders, within six months, about equal opportunities policies.