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Female manager demoted for 'refusing to bow' to Korean boss
By News Desk
Published: December 1, 2016
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A financial manager of a UK-based Korean firm was demoted because she “refused to bow to her boss,” an employment tribunal heard this week.
The 43-year-old, Misook McDonald said that Dongbu Daewoo Electronics director, Ho Seung Yoo, was ‘furious’ over her failure to bow to him at the start and end of each working day.
After her refusal to bow to her boss, she was ‘ordered’ to make coffee, to which he retorted, “Isn’t that what female workers should do?”
“I replied that it wasn’t out of disrespect that I stopped bowing to him, it was because I wanted to avoid him in case he called me into his office whilst I went to say hello or goodbye,” she said.
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Mrs McDonald is suing Dongbu Daewoo Electronics for sex discrimination, age discrimination and racial discrimination.
McDonald, who has an English father and South Korean mother, also claimed she was stripped of her managerial role because she was not a white British man.
“I felt discriminated just because I am viewed as a Korean female and younger, hence lower in status that I can be looked down upon and pushed aside,” she said.
“I know if I had been an older British white Caucasian male, Mr Yoo would have seen me very differently and would not dare to push me around so easily.”
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Speaking about the gender discrimination she faced, Mrs Mcdonald, from Sonning-on-Thames, Berkshire, told the tribunal, “I asked Mr Yoo why was I being asked to do secretarial duties such as making coffees. He said, “isn’t that what female employees should do?”
The electronic sales company, which is based in Winnersh Triangle, Berkshire, and its chief financial officer, Mr Yoo, denied the claims made by the employee.
Mr Yoo told the panel, “Mrs McDonald never complained about being called into my office whilst at work until she lodged her grievance.” He added, “The suggestion raised by Mrs McDonald as to me demanding that she bow to me is simply not true.”
“Bowing is considered a custom in Korea but nobody in our UK office is required to bow. Some of our Korean staff choose to bow but as I say nobody must bow, it is entirely voluntary,” said Mr Yoo.
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Mr Yoo, who had previously worked in the company’s Northern Irish office, said, “While I was working for the UK office, I never ever asked any of my employees to bow to me at all, never ever.” He added, “If Mrs McDonald voluntarily decided to follow some Korean cultural protocol I would not mind.”
However, Mr Yoo did admit making a sexist comment on Mrs McDonald making coffee. He said, “Although I asked her to make some coffee for my guests, I was really sorry for asking that of her at the time.”
The tribunal, presided over by Judge Andrew Gumbiti-Zimuto, continues.
This article originally appeared on Daily Mail.
By News Desk
Published: December 1, 2016
2SHARES
SHARE TWEET EMAIL
A financial manager of a UK-based Korean firm was demoted because she “refused to bow to her boss,” an employment tribunal heard this week.
The 43-year-old, Misook McDonald said that Dongbu Daewoo Electronics director, Ho Seung Yoo, was ‘furious’ over her failure to bow to him at the start and end of each working day.
After her refusal to bow to her boss, she was ‘ordered’ to make coffee, to which he retorted, “Isn’t that what female workers should do?”
“I replied that it wasn’t out of disrespect that I stopped bowing to him, it was because I wanted to avoid him in case he called me into his office whilst I went to say hello or goodbye,” she said.
Hindu reporter forced to drink from separate glass at workplace in Karachi
Mrs McDonald is suing Dongbu Daewoo Electronics for sex discrimination, age discrimination and racial discrimination.
McDonald, who has an English father and South Korean mother, also claimed she was stripped of her managerial role because she was not a white British man.
“I felt discriminated just because I am viewed as a Korean female and younger, hence lower in status that I can be looked down upon and pushed aside,” she said.
“I know if I had been an older British white Caucasian male, Mr Yoo would have seen me very differently and would not dare to push me around so easily.”
US company fires 200 Muslim employees over prayer dispute
Speaking about the gender discrimination she faced, Mrs Mcdonald, from Sonning-on-Thames, Berkshire, told the tribunal, “I asked Mr Yoo why was I being asked to do secretarial duties such as making coffees. He said, “isn’t that what female employees should do?”
The electronic sales company, which is based in Winnersh Triangle, Berkshire, and its chief financial officer, Mr Yoo, denied the claims made by the employee.
Mr Yoo told the panel, “Mrs McDonald never complained about being called into my office whilst at work until she lodged her grievance.” He added, “The suggestion raised by Mrs McDonald as to me demanding that she bow to me is simply not true.”
“Bowing is considered a custom in Korea but nobody in our UK office is required to bow. Some of our Korean staff choose to bow but as I say nobody must bow, it is entirely voluntary,” said Mr Yoo.
French embassy employee fired for being Muslim wins lawsuit
Mr Yoo, who had previously worked in the company’s Northern Irish office, said, “While I was working for the UK office, I never ever asked any of my employees to bow to me at all, never ever.” He added, “If Mrs McDonald voluntarily decided to follow some Korean cultural protocol I would not mind.”
However, Mr Yoo did admit making a sexist comment on Mrs McDonald making coffee. He said, “Although I asked her to make some coffee for my guests, I was really sorry for asking that of her at the time.”
The tribunal, presided over by Judge Andrew Gumbiti-Zimuto, continues.
This article originally appeared on Daily Mail.
