A 39-year-old Hippodrome casino waitress who was referred to as “the black girl” has lost her age and race discrimination case. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

Told to “grow up”

A Hippodrome casino waitress who was referred to as “the black girl” has lost her age and race discrimination case.

acceptable way to address Mariotti after it was claimed she was behaving “childishly”

An employment tribunal, held in central London, heard how 39-year-old Merona Marcello Mariotti had had an argument with another employee, known as Safia, and was told to “grow up.” According to Judge Sarah Goodman, this was an acceptable way to address Mariotti after it was claimed she was behaving “childishly.”

The judge deemed that this was not age discrimination. Similarly, the judge found that there was no race discrimination when a supervisor referred to her as “the black girl” when Mariotti fell and hurt her wrist. Mariotti, who is mixed raced, has an Italian and Eritrean heritage.

According to the judge, this was likely used because the supervisor, who supervises around 200 staff, couldn’t remember her name and was identifying who needed help.

Break time

The incident between the two employees took place in 2019, surrounding a dispute between Safia and Mariotti and a glass that needed to be picked up. According to Safia, who informed their supervisor, Mariotti had been rude when talking to her.

The supervisor is alleged to have said to Mariotti afterwards that she should “not to expect the youngsters to do the work” and that she should be the “bigger person” because Safia is a lot younger.

Mariotti launched a grievance case in 2019, but in 2020 she was let go and attempted to sue Hippodrome for age and discrimination.

should have been more restrained

According to judge Goodman, they believed the supervisor thought that Mariotti had behaved immaturely and that she “should have been more restrained.”

During the tribunal, the waitress also argued that it was unfair that her colleagues were permitted ten to 15 cigarette breaks a day when she was only entitled to a 30-minute break during a ten-hour shift. Evidence, however, suggests that Mariotti was also allowed two extra 15-minute breaks.

Judge Goodman concluded by saying “that not asking for breaks was why she did not get them.”