Former Digicel Employee Files Sexual Harassment Suit against the Telecoms Giant
- Written by Chronicle News
Justice Kirk Anderson of the Jamaica Supreme Court on Wednesday adjourned a three-day hearing of a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by former Digicel Group Director Jean Blackstock.
Blackstock worked as the Human Resources Director from 2000 to 2004 and has given evidence that she was sexually harassed by her immediate supervisor and CEO Seamus Lynch.
The case filed March 31, 2011 by QC Jacqueline Samuels-Brown says the former employee was wrongfully dismissed, which also resulted in the loss of her full share options with Digicel.
“I did not report the harassment because I was afraid and concerned that nobody would have believed me. Also based on how ex-colleagues were treated, clearly I would not have been supported,” Blackstock stated.
Lawyer for the defense Attorney Alexander Williams is proposing that what Blackstock experienced was merely normal work pressures.
Ms Blackstock who did not wish to go into the details of the case as it is still pending has stated that she believes she made the right decision to ask the court to rule on her case and has taken note of the fact that the Government of Jamaica is to introduce a sexual harassment bill which will make it easier for women to bring such cases.
The matter is scheduled to return to court on October 8, 2014.
It is understandable if you don’t complain to others about someone sexually harassing you; but you must at the very least complain to the person harassing you. An HR Director should have been smart enough to write an email to her boss letting him know that she did not appreciate his advances. That letter and his response may well have been all the evidence required.
It is understandable if you don’t complain to others about someone sexually harassing you; but you must at the very least complain to the person harassing you. An HR Director should have been smart enough to write an email to her boss letting him know that she did not appreciate his advances. That letter and his response may well have been all the evidence required.