GLASGOW University’s head of business has told an employment tribunal a female academic overlooked for promotion was treated unfairly. 

Professor John Finch made the admission as he was cross-examined by the economist Jeanette Findlay, who says she faced both direct and indirect sex discrimination after her application to be made a professor was rejected in 2020. 

Finch, who was Findlay’s line manager and head of the university’s business school, said he made a “deeply regrettable oversight” by not including details of Findlay’s leadership experience in his first reference statement which was subsequently reviewed by the board who rejected the application. 

Findlay said the university’s head of people and development Christine Barr had told her: “People rarely get promoted if they do not have their head of school’s support.”

At Wednesday’s hearing, Finch admitted the chances of becoming a professor were “low” for academics who are not backed by their line managers. 

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Findlay, who was made professor of economics this month, told the tribunal that Finch’s reference statement, which did not include details of her caring responsibilities, “was always going to be damaging to me”.  

Finch responded by saying “I was wrong” about leaving out information and told the tribunal he had changed his statement after meeting Findlay and heard her concerns.

The tribunal was told that academics were expected to meet an “esteem criteria” by working more hours, becoming members of recognised societies, publishing work and travelling for research papers, to earn a professorship. 

Findlay said these were more likely to be achieved by men who did not have any caring responsibilities. 

She suggested men outperformed women by 20% “in relation to publications”. 

Findlay said: “Would you agree there is a gender bias in the esteem criteria […] women struggle to match those indicators?” 

Finch replied: “Potentially.”

The tribunal was then told how Findlay had asked for a subject-specific mentor to help with her application for a promotion three times in her annual performance and development reviews but claimed Finch had not replied to her requests. 

She accused Finch of pairing a male economist who had also applied for a professorship with a “world-class economist” mentor and said, “in my case, I [got] a lawyer, an accountant and now a marketing specialist”.

Findlay argued there was a “significant difference” in the reference statement written by Finch for the male applicant.

She added that he received extra comments despite not meeting the criteria and told the tribunal that following a meeting about the promotion, she “didn’t get any advice” but that Finch suggested she move into learning and teaching. 

Findlay asked Finch: “Was it because that is what women do? Did you think, here she is, she fits more into [learning and teaching]?”

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In her final questions, she said: “I was treated unfairly in respect to mentoring. I was failed [by the statement] in terms of my caring responsibilities.”

Finch agreed and said, “it was unfair” whilst Findlay added: “I don’t think you know the damage this has done to me but I’m glad you told the truth. 

The tribunal is expected to last another two weeks. 

The University of Glasgow has said it would be inappropriate for them to comment while the hearing is ongoing.