A Sky salesman has won £51,082 after he was fired for suggesting to a female colleague that women who wear short skirts are to blame if they get raped.
Raja Minhas (44) said that women who dress inappropriately may be perceived as inviting men to sexually assault them. This was after seeing a young girl in Blackburn, where Minhas worked.
The ‘successful’ sales adviser – who earned more than £100,000 as well as receiving a £2,296 Sky TV package – was fired for gross misconduct.
He won an unfair dismissal claim after the judge said that he was sorry and that the comments were private and to him and his wife, not the girls.
An inquiry in Liverpool heard that Minhas worked on Sky for over two years at a Blackburn shopping center in Lancashire. He made comments to his female coworker in 2019.
Raja Minhas (pictured), 44 said that women who dress inappropriately are seen as an invitation for men to sexually assault them. After observing the attire of a young girl in Blackburn, he observed it.
Mia Klemetti stated that Minhas commented, following two teenage girls aged 15-16 walking past him, that “girls generally who wear skirts such as that and then get sexually assaulted” (it’s their fault).
They had a heated conversation with Ms Klemetti, who told them that she believes a woman should have the freedom to choose what clothes she liked and should not be subject to rape because of it.
According to the Tribunal, he stated that he felt that girls wearing clothes like those of’sick persons’ could take advantage.
Investigators were told by him that he saw two young girls walk past while working for Ms Klemetti. Both girls were wearing inappropriate clothing. The outline of their bodies could be seen.
‘I told you that it was Pakistan and people would look at this.
“Mia then said that it wasn’t true. They can choose how they dress. It’s up to them, the individual, whether they are good or not.”
“I think that if they wore this type of clothing, some sick-minded people could benefit from it.”
Farhan Qudeer, a coworker, overheard and then reported his manager’s comments.
He felt that it was his duty to inform the public about what he’d heard because this could give Pakistanis a poor name.
Tribunal heard Ms Klemetti telling managers Mr Minhas’s comments would have an impact on how she dresses in the future, but that he was ‘not a bad guy’ and wouldn’t hurt anyone.
The ‘successful’ sales adviser – who earned more than £100,000 as well as receiving a £2,296 Sky TV package – was fired for gross misconduct
Minhas said that although he did not feel some customers were dressed inappropriately, he understood he could not comment on their outfits.
He stated that his remarks were an ‘intentional lapse in judgment’ and would not repeat them.
He said he would like to apologize and that the tribunal had found him ‘contrite and apologetic with remorse.
He was eventually fired for gross misconduct and suspended despite his apology. This partly stemmed from the mistaken assumption that he had made comments to women walking by.
A tribunal ruled that Mr Minhas held strong views about how people should act, but that he shouldn’t have been fired because he “never condoned” rape.
According to the panel’s verdict, it stated:[Mr Minhas]Ms. Klemetti felt that she wouldn’t dress in certain ways in front of her, and was therefore guilty of misconduct [him].
“This was an argument that erupted between two people with two very different opinions about how women should dress in public.
“The incident was not necessary.” [Mr Minhas]To be removed and such a sentence in any case outside of the range of reasonable responses is unacceptable.
“Mr Minhas has never condoned the practice of rape.” He was interested in how certain clothes might influence the behaviour of men.
He continued, “The observation made to Ms Klemetti is part of general discussions about clothes.”
Mr Minhas… was a strong advocate for what women should wear.
“For instance, he believed that breastfeeding should be prohibited in public places. He also stated that these views were his and that he was open to other opinions.
In Manchester, a remedy hearing heard that Minhas was fired by Sky and found another job in Hertfordshire as a salesman at an agency.
He requested to get his Sky job back at the hearing. His request was turned down.
Judge Robinson stated:[The pandemic]Problems that result from it [it has]It would be difficult, if it wasn’t impossible, to return the claimant with Sky.
Although Mr Minhas might not feel embarrassed about his return, some of his coworkers may be. The industrial environment, even if it is not poisoned by the atmosphere, could not help in small settings where salesmen and women must get along to promote Sky’s products.
“He earned a substantial amount of money each week through hard work and his skill. He must be paid for this loss.”