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A Spanish electrician who workmates nicknamed Manuel after the waiter in Fawlty Towers is set to receive thousands of pounds in compensation.
Juan Ignacio, who comes from Barcelona, sued his former employers at the private London Bridge Hospital claiming he was taunted with Andrew Sachs's character's "que?" and "I know nothing" catchphrases.
Mr Ignacio, 33, who has lived in Britain for five years, was seeking almost £30,000 for alleged racial discrimination, harassment and constructive dismissal in an employment tribunal case against hospital owner HCA International and two bosses - estates manager Chris Sweeney and chief engineer Richard Metcalfe.
However, on the first day of a hearing in Croydon, HCA agreed to pay him an undisclosed sum. No liability was admitted by HCA or the managers.
In papers submitted to the tribunal, Mr Ignacio said: "When we used to watch Fawlty Towers in Spain, we laughed at ourselves. But with these people it went became nasty. They made me feel like an idiot."
Mr Ignacio began working at the hospital in 2006 as a building services engineer, and claimed the insults continued until he resigned 18 months later. Polish handyman Marcin Lukomski, 30, will also receive an undisclosed payout after HCA settled his claim for alleged racial discrimination out of court. None of those involved made any comment.
Reader views (18)
@ Rogan, Irving
In Spain there is more than just one language (spanish); we have Galician, Catalan and Basque.
In the Spanish version Manuel became 'Paolo' (Italian), but this wasn't that way in the other versions. So, since this man is from Barcelona, he might have seen the Catalana version instead of the Spanish.
Or, why not, the Original English Version.
- Jordi Ripoll Rodríguez, Barcelona, 03/06/2009 09:00
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Political correctness and the compensation culture have got out of control. Anybody not prepared to give and take take a little ribbing has no place in a British workplace.
- Anthony, London Borough of Waltham Forest., 02/06/2009 22:38
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This was so terrible; it makes me want to beat a car with a branch.
- John, London, 02/06/2009 16:45
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Mr Ignacio said: "When we used to watch Fawlty Towers in Spain, we laughed at ourselves."
Sorry, but when someone gets caught out in a lie, it makes everything they say suspicious. The Spanish showings of Fawlty Towers did not have Manuel as a Spaniard. I believe it was as a Portugese or other adjoining nationality. So any laughing that was done was not at themselves. The man was manipulating events to provide a sympathetic contrast.
There is no such thing as 'nation' racism - in todays heterogenous populations the accusation is not only a joke, but it belittles and denies the real racism that goes on WITHIN national identities.
- Rogan, Irving, 02/06/2009 15:35
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Lack of respect and making fun of people from other country
is so bad for the "whites " in the U.K. that is seem as despicable , disliked and hated by other people from other country, nothing to be proud of !!!
- Paul Satchell, Tenerife -Spain, 02/06/2009 15:15
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You people are so sad
- Pws, Perth Australia, 02/06/2009 15:05
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- John, London
I think you should look up the definition of racism. I do not blame your ignorance, because of the minority centric, politically correct rubbish about, the word has been perverted.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 02/06/2009 14:22
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John in case you haven't noticed race is just the colour of ones skin!
I have a real problem with people that think being rude, offensive or aggressive is OK. And what I really take exception to is people that accuse people who are the victims of being the problem.
You may have the thickest skin in the world, but if you have someone who can abuse unchecked for along periods of time then everyone will feel some sort of emotional pain.
The only reason that this person was targeted was based on his ethnic make-up and his accent. Is that fair? Is that any less racist that targeting because of the colour of there skin? It is clearly not.
- Not Exactly A Looney Lefty!, The real world, 02/06/2009 13:42
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In a way I am glad he got a hefty pay out because nobody else is going to employ him now, are they. Hope it was worth it, fella!
- St, London, 02/06/2009 13:29
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'Not Exactly A Looney Lefty!' (Real name I take it?)
What was my comment about? Er, I thought it was pretty self explanatory - that (what is almost certainly) one white man talking to another white man may be unpleasant, but it doesn't constitute racism.
I have taken into account perfectly well that words can be delivered with different intent, (hence my "Even if it was bad enough to be considered harassment" comment). I just feel one white man suing another, (and their employer) under the label 'racism' is an insult to people who are subjected to real racism - and it therefore weakens the accusation all round.
The label was cynically used by him to guarantee maximum impact in his claim - and it worked.
Companies and institutions are now so frightened to be branded 'institutionally racist', (with all the damage that brings) that they'd rather settle out of court - no matter how trivial, false or undeserving the claim.
- John, London, 02/06/2009 12:47
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Well, Guy in Luxembourg, has it escaped your notice that far worse racism is regularly showered on the black footballers and racing drivers of this country [without compensation and little or no admonishment from the authorities in Spain]than a few "Manuel" jokes. Harsh though it may seem, I agree that some people need to grow thicker skins and this claimant senor is one of them.
For the avoidance of doubt, I am what some people would call partially disabled and suffered regular abuse until my 20's. If nothing else that abuse has actually made me better able to deal with it in later life, as it continues to this day.
- Steven Dale, London, England, 02/06/2009 12:04
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Haskey
thanks for proving exactly why this guy got his pay-out. You are not funny, you are crass and ignorant. So time for you to move to the real world were grown ups live and behave like one. And John what is you comment about it not being racist about!!!!!!
What no-one has taken into account is the intent with which these comments were delivered. You can be very playful with a comment or you can be very hurtful, same words very different impact.
- Not Exactly A Looney Lefty!, The real world, 02/06/2009 12:04
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Bloke should learn to get a sense of humour. Or perhaps he'd prefer to be ignored.
If I was an immigrant I'm sure I'd prefer to be included with a bit of gentle ribbing than be ignored. They were calling him after a likeable character not Pol Pot or Hitler for goodness sake! If anything it's flattering. Another moneygrubbing scumbbag I'll be bound.
- Sarah Bradshaw, Enfield, Middx, 02/06/2009 12:01
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It is so sad that such trivia gets to court.
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke, 02/06/2009 11:09
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"Haskey, London SE1" - Your comment is not productive at all. Many Brits have moved abroad for a better quality of life within the EU and do not expect or accept covert or even overt racism. Please try to change your mind to the fact that the world is bigger than SE1.
- Guy, Luxembourg, 02/06/2009 10:36
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Ridiculous!
People take the 'proverbial' out of each-other all the time in the workplace, it doesn't always constitute harassment. Some people need to toughen up a bit and learn to give as good as they get.
Even if it was bad enough to be considered harassment, which he could then sue for, how on earth is it racism? It's not like he's Nigerian or Japanese is it...
Just looking for way to get a large payout - and he got one.
- John, London, 02/06/2009 10:19
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Ole!
- Chris, Brighton, England., 02/06/2009 10:03
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Another reason for pulling out of the EU! If zey can't take ze good old Britisher zense of humour, zen they should pack zer bags und go home.
Instead of spending their time fiddling their expenses, our MPs should spend time scrapping all these ridiculous laws.
- Haskey, London SE1, 02/06/2009 09:10
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