Manager sacked after accusing Tytan of sexual comments wins tribunal case

READING, UK – Olinda Chapel-Nkomo’s company Gain Healthcare will have to pay thousands in compensation to a former manager who was sacked two days after complaining Olinda’s husband Tytan Nkomo was ‘sexually inappropriate’ towards her.

A report by the UK Daily Mail newspaper reports how Amber Stoter was fired by the company after she had accused Tytan of ‘sexual impropriety’ including a comment to her about being ‘hard’ and referring to her as his ‘property’.

In one example Ms Stoter posted a picture with a caption saying ‘working hard in the sun’, and Tytan allegedly commented saying ‘that’s not the only thing you make go hard’.

Stoter represented herself at the Reading Employment Tribunal and won her case for unfair dismissal.

She outlined how she was ‘ambushed’ into a meeting with Olinda and fired 48 hours after lodging a complaint about Tytan’s alleged behaviour towards her including calling her his girlfriend.

The Tribunal was of the opinion that Mrs Chapel-Nkomo sacked Ms Stoter because she viewed the allegations made against her husband as ‘problematic’.

Stoter started working for Gain Healthcare on June 5, 2023 and on June 26 she had told her line manager Jessica Cannon about Tytan’s conduct.

Gain Healthcare meanwhile had argued that Stoter was fired because she had ‘been witnessed leaving our premises to frequent the neighbouring tanning studio during contractual working hours’ among several other reasons.

Another reason given was that she had sent ‘excessive’ number of messages to colleagues on a WhatsApp chat.

Olinda Chapel in her witness statement said: “I dismissed her because of her exceptionally concerning and escalatory behaviour during my one to one with her.”

In his ruling Employment Judge Colin Baran said: “Overall, the Tribunal concludes that the principal reason for (Ms Stoter’s) dismissal by Mrs Chapel-Nkomo was the making of the protected disclosure about Mr Nkomo….

“The Tribunal concludes that at the time of dismissal Mrs Chapel-Nkomo knew of the fact and nature of the disclosure – reports of sexually inappropriate conduct by her husband Mr Nkomo towards (Ms Stoter), a new member of staff.

“Such a disclosure, if properly acted upon, would have been problematic not just for (Gain Healthcare) but also for Mr Chapel-Nkomo personally.’

A remedy hearing will take place in September to decide compensation due to Ms Stoter.