A former retail worker from east Belfast has settled a disability discrimination case against his past employer.
Harvey Spence (19), who has a learning disability, said he was forced to leave his job at B&M Retail Limited following disability harassment by some colleagues.
Supported by the Equality Commission, Mr Spence settled the case for £5,000 without admission of liability.
He worked at the company's east Belfast store for 18 months in a stock filling role and had enjoyed his job, but said that changed when he began to be excluded from conversations and subjected to derogatory remarks.
He alleged he was constantly told he was useless and that no other company would want him because he was stupid.
"I liked going out to work and earning my own money, it was important to me," he said.
"After a year in my job, some new people I worked with started being horrible to me and it became really hard and very upsetting.
"I dreaded going to work.
"Some of the people I worked with wouldn’t speak to me at all and others would tell me to go away by saying horrible things, they used really bad language and called me names.
"I found it hard to stand up for myself, and in the end I had to leave my job as it was making me feel very sick.
"I got so worried about how they would treat me if I went back in.
"I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to get another job because I’m really afraid other people will treat me like that again."
As part of the settlement terms, B&M confirmed its commitment to the principle of equality of opportunity in employment.
The company will also liaise with the Equality Commission to review its equal opportunities, disability policies, practices and procedures and agreed to consider reasonable adjustments as suggested by the commission.
Dr Evelyn Collins, chief executive of the Equality Commission, said: "It is so disappointing that Harvey, who was keen to work, enjoyed his job and the sense of identity and independence it offered him, felt he had no choice but to leave his job.
"The sort of behaviour that Harvey describes really has no place in any workplace. Harvey was entitled to be treated with dignity and respect at work just like everyone else.
"The employment rate for disabled people in Northern Ireland is 37.3 per cent, the lowest of all the UK regions, and this needs to improve.
"Harvey’s experience at work highlights that much remains to be done to challenge barriers to employment for many disabled people and to ensure they can secure and retain paid employment."
B&M Retail Limited were contacted for comment.
