An easyJet cabin manager, Ross Barr, has claimed he was unfairly dismissed for s3xual harassment because he is a straight man.
Barr was sacked for gross misconduct following repeated complaints from colleagues and passengers about inappropriate remarks and the use of the tannoy system for what he described as “comedy routines” during safety briefings. He had previously received a final warning in 2022, but further complaints over the next two years led to his dismissal.
During hearings, colleagues reported that Barr frequently made inappropriate comments. On one occasion, he referred to his team as “lovely ladies” over the tannoy. He was also accused of telling a colleague, “Oh, I’ve just brushed past your boobs,” and saying to another, “I’m not doing anything… I’m just staring at your ass.” In a separate incident, he reportedly told a female colleague struggling with her bag: “Having a problem trying to stuff it in? Bet you’ve never had that problem.” He also introduced one flight attendant as his “much more attractive colleague.”
One crew member alleged that Barr spent “the entire shift” making s3xual remarks and even boasted about a previous suspension, justifying it by saying: “All I said was that her tits would get bigger if she got pregnant, and guess what? They did.”
Barr defended himself by describing his remarks as harmless “flirty banter” and argued that he was discriminated against because of his sexuality, claiming such behaviour would have been tolerated if it had come from “a gay colleague.”
Employment judge Muriel Robinson rejected his appeal, stating that the evidence did not support his claims of discrimination. She noted: “This is not the first time you have been in this situation with regard to your conduct and comments made to female crew members.”
The tribunal upheld easyJet’s decision, ruling that his dismissal was fair and proportionate.
