Munchkins Restaurant v Karmazyn

The claimants in this case were waitresses who said they had been subjected to persistent unwanted sexual conduct for up to five years from the controlling shareholder of a restaurant. They alleged that he had insisted they wear short skirts, subjected them to inappropriate conversation of a sexual nature on an almost daily basis, enquired about their sex lives and referred to sexually explicit photographs left in the restaurant.

The employment tribunal upheld their claims of harassment under the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, and for constructive unfair dismissal, holding that the restaurant and the controlling shareholder were jointly and severally liable for the discrimination awards.