Computacenter case nears conclusion

Computacenter returned to court yesterday for the seventh day of its sex discrimination case.

The dealer giant is being sued by ex-employee, Caroline Olds, for £500,000 in lost earnings and missed share options. The company has already accepted that she was unfairly dismissed.

The tribunal in West Croydon has heard some sensational evidence on the company known to employees as 'the fear factory'. Chief executive, Mike Norris, admitted under cross-examination that he found "women difficult to manage".

He was also unable to answer questions on the company's equal opportunities policy, despite having sole responsibility for sales personnel.

Ms Olds worked at the company for nine years and was one of its highest flying sales people. She was an account manager and on top of her £20,000 per annum salary, earned about £350,000 in commissions. She is suing for six months earnings, compensation for being passed over for promotion and loss of share options.

Computacenter was recently floated on the London Stock Exchange for over £1