The Agri-Food and Bio-Sciences Institute (AFBI) paid out to two women who alleged they were subjected to sex discrimination, sexual harassment and victimisation while working as Assistant Scientific Officers at the Institute.

The Institute has paid £25,000 to Carole Daly, 29, and £22,500 to Hollie Lewis, 31, in settlement of their cases.

The two women say that the Project Leader, a Senior Scientific Officer, frequently described the only male ASO as ‘the top dog’ and said that the other (female) staff were below him.

They also say they were shouted at without justification and repeated complaints about the situation were not dealt with.

Both women were on sick leave due to work related stress and Ms Lewis has subsequently left her employment under a voluntary exit scheme. Ms Daly has returned to work for AFBI in another department.

In both cases the Institute has apologised for the injury to feelings, upset and distress suffered by the women as a result. It has affirmed its commitment to the principle of equality of opportunity in employment.

It has also undertaken to meet with the Equality Commission to review its policies, practices and procedures to ensure they are effective and conform to equality legislation.

AFBI confirmed it will implement all reasonable recommendations the Commission may make and that it will provide equality training to all staff which will include their obligations and responsibilities under the Sex Discrimination Order.

Eileen Lavery, the Equality Commission’s head of advice & compliance and legal, said: “It is unacceptable that, in the 21st century, women can still be subjected to disparaging treatment and find their position in the workplace diminished.

“The Commission has been a partner in a government-led initiative to increase the representation of women in scientific, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) employments. This work is important but its progress can be hampered if women still, on occasion, encounter bias and harassment in recruitment, promotion and in their daily work in the STEM industries.”

“We need to reinforce the core message of 40 years of sex discrimination law.

“Women must be equal participants in all employment fields – and be confident that they will be treated with dignity and respect. It is the responsibility of all employers to ensure that, where individuals fail to live up to that standard, action is taken to deal with it effectively.”