London barrister wins employment tribunal against her boss

Richard Barca, 62, shouted a torrent of abuse at Mahbooba Shirin, 51, (above) on her third day at Wilson Barca LLP based in Archway, North London, the tribunal heard

A barrister whose boss slammed her tea-making skills as ‘f***ing stupid’ has won an employment tribunal against him.

Richard Barca, 62, shouted a torrent of abuse at Mahbooba Shirin, 51, on her third day at Wilson Barca LLP based in Archway, North London, the tribunal heard.

He also yelled that the firm wasn’t a fish and chip shop and called her a ‘stupid melon’ for not bringing him the morning mail, The Sun reported. 

Ms Shirin joined Barca’s firm as an office worker and paralegal but was soon subjected to his horrifying rants, it was said.

Raging at her on one occasion, he reportedly yelled: ‘How f***ing difficult is it to make a f***ing cup of tea? Why can’t you get it into your f***ing head.’

He is also said to have shouted at her: ‘This is not a f***ing fish and chip shop, this is a solicitor’s office. When the phone rings pick up the f***ing phone.’

Ms Shirin resigned in June 2016 saying she could 'take the abuse no further' and was diagnosed with depression

Ms Shirin resigned in June 2016 saying she could ‘take the abuse no further’ and was diagnosed with depression

Barca, who was reprimanded at a 2015 tribunal for calling another colleague a ‘plonker’, denied calling Ms Shirin ‘f***ing’ stupid.

Barca, who was reprimanded at a 2015 tribunal for calling another colleague a 'plonker', denied calling Ms Shirin 'f***ing' stupid 

Barca, who was reprimanded at a 2015 tribunal for calling another colleague a ‘plonker’, denied calling Ms Shirin ‘f***ing’ stupid 

When challenged he criticised her for failing to follow instructions and admitted swearing at all his staff, it was said.

Ms Shirin resigned in June 2016 saying she could ‘take the abuse no further’ and was diagnosed with depression.

During her eight months at the firm she kept a diary of the verbal abuse she suffered.  

An entry from her third day on the job read: ‘Mr Barca shouted at me violently, using profanity for not making his tea to his liking.’

She said she was ‘treated like a slave’ and that another colleague called her ‘slow’ and ‘too old for this job’.

Judge David Pearl ruled that Ms Shirin was harassed due to her sex and age and a constructive dismissal claim was denied.

The London Central Employment Tribunal has given both sides two weeks to submit remedy proposals.



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