The case against sex harassment was filed by a senior accountant who managed a financial response for a local council to Grenfell Tower’s disaster. His younger female colleague and one of his coworkers alleged that they had been ‘dozing off’ to share sex after she thought they may be having an affair.
Monika Newton, an Oxford-educated Francis Austin, was recruited by him to be part of his financial team to support Kensington and Chelsea Council’s 2017 response to fire that claimed 72 lives.
However, an employment tribunal heard that Ms. Newton had arrived and antagonized his deputy Lesley Shields. She became suspicious they were working to save time for their relationship.
She openly suggested to colleagues that the pair were sleeping together and when they went out for an appointment told one they must have gone to a hotel before adding: ‘She’s sucking his c**k about now’.
Mr Austin, who was being paid the equivalent of around £150,000-a-year, and Ms Newton, who was hired on an equivalent of more than £100,000-a-year, complained about Ms Shields’ comments.
He claimed that Ms Shields conspired with others to slow down work on the project. This claim was later dismissed by council after an investigation.
Later, the council ended Ms Newton and Mr Austin’s rolling contract. The couple have been awarded an employment tribunal. You are now eligible for compensation
Monika Newton, an Oxford-educated Francis Austin (pictured), was recruited by him to be part of his financial team that supported Kensington and Chelsea Council’s 2017 response to the fire which claimed 72 lives.
Mr Austin, who was being paid the equivalent of around £150,000-a-year, and Ms Newton, who was hired on an equivalent of more than £100,000-a-year complained about comments suggesting he was having an affair with Ms Newton
Central London’s tribunal was informed that Austin had joined the authority in March 2017 on a rolling contract to be deputy Chief Financial Officer.
As part of his deal he was paid £650 a day, the equivalent of an annual salary of more than £150,000.
The Grenfell Tower Block fire claimed 72 lives in June that year. Austin was appointed head of finance to assist the council with its response.
According to the tribunal, Ms Shields was the deputy of the group accountant at council.
The hearing revealed that tensions had grown between the two over the slow pace at which work was completed.
Austin also met Ms. Newton, an experienced project manager with whom he has previously worked before to talk about her joining the team for a “housing legacy” project that was related to the catastrophe.
The tribunal was told that without authorisation, he proceeded to hire Ms Newton on a £450 a day short term contract, equivalent to more than £100,000 a year.
Ms. Newton was first in November when the tribunal heard from Ms Shields that she didn’t like the way she had been promoted and wasn’t sure her position was necessary.
Ms Shields, who felt under increased work pressure, told the tribunal that Mr Austin behaved differently after Ms Newton was appointed.
The tribunal was told that without authorisation, Mr Austin proceeded to hire Ms Newton on a £450 a day short term contract, equivalent to more than £100,000 a year
“He arrived at work late, went home early and took Ms Newton to lunch,” she stated.
‘There were grumblings within the team about Mr Austin’s little work.
“Mr Austin attended all Ms Newton’s meetings, even though it was not necessary for him to do so.
The hearing was told that soon after her arrival, Ms Shields referred to Ms Newton to colleagues as a ‘c***’ and a ‘bitch’.
According to Ms Shields, Ms Austin and Ms Shields were together at lunch on the 29th of November.
“She stated that they had gathered their coats and bags at 1.45pm and Ms Shields inquired about where they were headed,” the tribunal was told. “They claimed they were headed to the Tower.
When Ms Shields asked them why they did that, they answered they were going to (a meeting), and Ms Newton said she wanted to visit the Tower.
Ms Shields looked through (the) diary, which didn’t show such a meeting. Ms Shields claimed she was annoyed because she thought that they were trying to get out of work.
“They didn’t have to visit the Tower. Although they could make the trip round in about an hour, they chose not to return.
“The entire team felt under immense pressure, but it seemed like they were wasting their time and money.
“She was working nights and weekends, under deadlines to budget and faced personal problems.
“She claimed that Ms. Newton and Mr. Austin were the subject of gossip and comments.
“Ms Shields admitted that she had said something similar to: “She (Ms Newton) is sucking Mr Austin’s (Mr Austin’s) cock right now’, (a colleague).
She said it was a regrettable decision and apologized.
Ronica Barard (Finance Manager) said that Ms Shields approached the table where she and her colleagues were sitting, and Mr Austin told her she had no notes in his notebook so she wasn’t sure how they got there.
Ms. Barard stated to the tribunal that she said they had to have booked a room in a hotel.
“About half an hours later, Ms Shields returned to the desks and stated: “She must be sucking him cock right now.”
Tensions between them escalated over the next few months.
In January 2020 Ms Newton got into a heated argument with the Tribunal. Ms Shields told her that she had warned her not to leave Ms Newton.
After hearing that his deputy had conspired with others to intentionally slow down work rates to get their contracts extended, Mr Austin believed it.
Ms. Newton was offended that Ms. Shields told her colleagues she suspects an affair. She complained to Mr. Austin that there had been sexual harassment at work.
An investigation was launched by the council, which resulted in Ms Shields getting warned over her behavior.
However, it rejected Mr Austin’s claims that she was slowing down for a purpose.
The Grenfell Tower Block fire claimed 72 lives in June that year. Austin was appointed head of finance and helped the council respond to the disaster.
Conclusion: The housing legacy project was inconclusive. Therefore, Ms Newton’s contract was terminated by the local authority at March 2020.
The next month, Austin received word that his contract had been terminated.
They took the council before a tribunal, claiming that they were victimized and sex discriminated against.
Presided over by Natasha Joffe (Employment Judge), the panel denied all claims, but stated that Ms Shields comments to her colleagues were sexual harassment.
It stated that “(Her) goal appears to be to vent her frustrations over Mr Austin and Mrs Newton to her coworkers.”
It stated that their alleged’sexual relationships rather than work’ had ‘violated’ their dignity and created an ‘humiliating atmosphere’.
‘The extreme vitriol involved in describing a colleague as a ‘c***’, arose, we concluded, from the particular level of resentment created by the combination of factors we have identified, including the perception…that Mr Austin and Ms Newton might be having an affair.’
A panel stated that the compensation would not be awarded unless the two parties can reach an agreement.