Chris McLean-Benjamin, a black British man of West Indian descent, found himself embroiled in a legal battle after a disagreement with a colleague about US President Joe Biden spiraled into accusations of racism.
The incident, which took place at Hornsey School for Girls in north London, led to McLean-Benjamin’s dismissal, raising questions about race, behavior, and workplace dynamics.
The Incident with a Colleague
The controversy began when McLean-Benjamin, who was working as the manager of the Learning Resource Centre, engaged in a conversation with a white female colleague, referred to in tribunal documents as ZBC.
He expressed his opinion that President Biden was a “dangerous man” and questioned his cognitive abilities.
The exchange, which was intended as a debate, quickly became uncomfortable when ZBC indicated she didn’t want to continue discussing the topic.
Despite her wishes, McLean-Benjamin revisited the matter when the two were alone in a storeroom.
During this second encounter, McLean-Benjamin allegedly told ZBC, “You are treating me like a child,” before adding, “I don’t care how you speak to your husband.”
ZBC later told another colleague that she felt uncomfortable during the exchange, leading her to lodge a formal complaint.
McLean-Benjamin, in turn, accused her of acting like a “superior white female.”
Accusations of Racism and Escalation
Following the complaint, the situation escalated. McLean-Benjamin was called into a meeting with school administrators.
There, he claimed the investigation was based on “plainly racism.”
His frustration was evident as he paced around the room, referring to ZBC dismissively as “that woman” rather than using her name.
He also expressed his belief that she viewed herself as a “superior white female” and referred to her behavior as “acting like a mad woman.”
When questioned about the details of the storeroom conversation, McLean-Benjamin allegedly made dismissive remarks, including suggesting that if ZBC accused him of “locking the door and battering her,” he would leave immediately.
He also called her a “clown” and a “joker.”
Reaction and Termination
Later that day, McLean-Benjamin spoke to his union representative, expressing anger about the situation.
The tribunal heard that his body language during the phone call indicated his frustration, with some overhearing him say, “This school is racist.”
Shortly after the call, McLean-Benjamin was asked to leave the school, and a security guard escorted him off the premises.
His dismissal prompted McLean-Benjamin to file a lawsuit against Hornsey School for Girls and the recruitment agency that had placed him there.
He claimed both race and sex discrimination, asserting that he was treated unfairly due to his ethnicity.
Tribunal’s Conclusion
The tribunal, held in Watford, ultimately dismissed McLean-Benjamin’s claims of racial discrimination.
Employment Judge Nathaniel Caiden concluded that there was no evidence to suggest that someone of a different race or sex would have been treated differently in the same situation.
The legal battle, which centered around a politically charged conversation and conflicting perceptions of workplace behavior, ended with McLean-Benjamin’s claims being rejected.
Though his dismissal was controversial, the tribunal found that it was not the result of racial bias, and McLean-Benjamin’s legal challenge was unsuccessful.
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!
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