Overview

• The employment tribunal found the slang term “Karen” to be a pejorative label with borderline racist, sexist and ageist implications.
• Judge George Alliott concluded there was no evidence that managers at Mencap targeted Sylvia Constance because of her race or age.
• Constance, a 74-year-old Black charity worker, had accused her female managers of acting like the stereotypical Karen and weaponising their privilege against her.
• All claims of unfair dismissal, race and age discrimination and victimisation were dismissed by the tribunal.
• Legal experts say the decision may shape future assessments of meme-based insults under workplace harassment and discrimination laws.