Offer him a sex act? I don’t use such words, says woman boss
AN ESTATE agency boss yesterday denied offering to perform a sex act on an employee if he reached his sales target, insisting the words he alleged she used were “just not in my vocabulary”.
Divorcee Sarah Thompson, 51, is alleged to have made the offer to financial consultant Paul Elworthy, 45, during a “reward” lunch for top performing staff in December 2013.
The allegation forms part of Mr Elworthy’s claim for constructive dismissal and sexual harassment against estate agent Your Move.
Banter
In a written statement financial services director Ms Thompson said the claimant alleged that at the lunch she had promised to perform the sex act if he banked £180,000 of income.
She said: “I categorically deny making this comment.
“I find this allegation hurtful and upsetting.
“The claimant and I used to be good friends but I have never said anything of this nature to the claimant.
“I have never said anything that the claimant could have misinterpreted as meaning this.”
Yesterday Mr Elworthy, who is representing himself, quizzed Ms extremely Thompson at an employment tribunal in Croydon, south London.
Ms Thompson, who has worked for the firm since 2003, said there had been “a lot of banter” at the lunch: “There was a lot of people talking, having fun and celebrating success.”
Asked if she had made the remark, she replied: “Mr Elworthy, that kind of language is not in my vocabulary.”
She said no conversation “around that subject” could have taken place.
The hearing was previously told that Mr Elworthy made the allegation on the day he resigned from his job in September 2015 after working for the company for 14 years.
Ms Thompson said there were 14 people at the lunch and she was not seated next to or opposite Mr Elworthy.
She added: “If this comment was made, which I do not accept it was, I find it strange the claimant did not discuss this with me at any point from then during our continuous employment relationship of two years.”
Ms Thompson said she did not know why another financial consultant who was present at the lunch, Giles Barrett, had made a statement backing up Mr Elworthy’s allegation.
The hearing continues. Paul Elworthy, 45, and Sarah Thompson, 51, attend the tribunal in London, where Mr Elworthy is suing estate agent Your Move