A children's centre worker who was called a weirdo by his boss has been paid more than £17,000 after a tribunal judge found the comment violated his dignity.
Nicholas James, who is autistic, complained in 2023 that he could not work properly at The Venture in Wrexham because of music being played, which affected his ability to concentrate.
The employment tribunal in Cardiff heard chief officer Malcolm King joked to him: "Why can't you be ordinary and perfect like the rest of us? But no, jokes aside, having always been something of a weirdo myself, I have some sympathy."
Judge Stephen Jenkins said the comments were "inappropriate" given Mr King's position and, on reflection, he agreed.
Mr Jenkins told the tribunal these comments came from the chief officer, "the most senior person within the executive structure of the organisation".
"In the circumstances, we were satisfied that the comments did involve unwanted conduct which had the effect of violating the claimant's dignity," he added.
