A middle-aged woman has won more than £20,000 after her male boss allegedly shouted and said she 'must be in her menopause ' at work.
The incident happened at Essex-based pet food firm Embark on Raw, where Leigh Best, then 52, was employed as a sales assistant, an employment tribunal heard.
Best, now 54, has gone on to set up her own company - RawKings, which sells premium dog and cat food.
Speaking to The Mirror, Best said she was "very happy" with the result, and that starting her own firm was the best thing to ever happen to her.
The dispute started in March 2020, when Best had a small argument with boss David Fletcher over an order mix-up.
This led to Mr Fletcher shouting across the workplace that Best must be menopausal.
An employment tribunal heard that Mr Fletcher "made inappropriate and derogatory comments about her age and remarks, relevant to her sex as a woman, relating to his perception or 'guess' that she might be menopausal or be experiencing stereotypical menopausal symptoms".
The tribunal found he did this even after Best made it clear she did not want to talk about it.
On one workday a customer described having a hot flush, and Best put her hands over her ears and said: "I don't even want to hear about it...I don't want to know."
But once the customer left, Fletcher "continued to pursue the topic" and this had the effect of "creating a humiliating environment for her [Best] at work", the tribunal heard.
Best then complained to Fletcher's wife Andrea about what her husband had said.
But Mrs Fletcher sided with her husband, telling Best: "You've got to stop moaning and you've got to talk to people with respect...you've got to stop trying to blame people...you're very quick to tell people when they're doing something wrong... you've got to get on with everybody or we'll have to call it a day".
Before the menopause dispute Best had flagged up concerns about how Embark on Raw was dealing with the Covid pandemic.
Embark on Raw was classed as an essential business, so remained open during lockdowns.
The panel heard Best was 'extremely worried' and felt that neither the management nor staff were consistently following government rules.
After one of her colleagues started coughing while not wearing a mask, Best went to Mrs Fletcher with her concerns.
But she was told she was "paranoid".
In May 2020, Raw sacked Best for 'rude' and 'confrontational' communication with co-workers and managers - a decision she unsuccessfully appealed.
However, the tribunal ruled she had actually been sacked for raising her Covid concerns and then victimised for complaining about Mr Fletcher's behaviour towards her.
The tribunal, headed by Employment Judge Bernice Elgot, said: "Mr Fletcher invaded the claimant's privacy, broached a highly sensitive topic for her and acted tactlessly in directly asking her, as an employee having the protected characteristic of sex as a woman, whether she was menopausal.
"He asked that question even after... she had made it quite clear she did not wish to participate in any such discussion.
"We are satisfied that part of the reason for the company's decision to dismiss Mrs Best is that she made a significant allegation of sexism and ageism against Mr David Fletcher."
Of her Covid concerns, the panel said she had made disclosures of 'information' which were also in the 'public interest'.
"She was intervening to protect herself, her family, her close friends and contacts, the customers and suppliers of [the Fletcher's] business and the wider public," the tribunal said.
The tribunal ordered Embark on Raw to pay Best £20,057.74 in compensation.
Speaking to The Mirror, Best said: "I'm very happy with the result. It opens up a whole new world, which is one I would never have dreamed of.
"I'm more than happy that I gave myself the opportunity to open up my own company. At 52 I did not have it in my plans to start my own business. But it has been the best thing that has ever happened to me."
Embark on Raw has been approached for comment.
