Condor to change toilet signs after being found guilty of discriminating against transgender passenger

Wednesday 25 May 2016

Condor has until the end of next month to change the signs on all its toilet doors on board their boats after a tribunal found the company guilty of discrimination towards a transgender passenger.

Ms Erin Bisson is the first transgender person in Jersey to win a case under the new discrimination law after complaining about the way she was treated on board a ferry back in November last year.

The case has led to local employment and discrimination law specialist Advocate Caroline Dutot of Ardent Chambers to urge companies to review their policies and practices.

She said: “The tribunal ruling shows that businesses need to look at all their policies and practices with a view to spotting possible areas of discrimination.

“This case shows that something as simple as the way in which a person is addressed or the manner in which signage is displayed can result in findings against a business of indirect discrimination. The tribunal will not consider a lack of employee awareness an acceptable explanation for any discriminatory conduct.”

The panel upheld Ms Bisson’s complaint that the company had directly discriminated against her because of her gender reassignment when she was travelling on the ferry on 26 November.

Condor admitted that there had been a ‘non-intentional and non-malicious act of discrimination’ towards Ms Bisson.

The company has until the end of June to change all their toilet signs so that Ms Bisson can use them without feeling humiliated or embarrassed.