The claims are strongly denied by Calmac.
Video: Graham Lyle, former head of digital services at CalMac speaks out.
Mr Lyle, who joined CalMac in October 2024 in a senior digital leadership role earning £81,000 a year, says he raised concerns after a senior member of staff allegedly referred to two colleagues of Indian and African descent by saying: “What do we just hire these people off the boat?” — a comment he claims shocked staff present at the meeting and was “clearly discriminatory and offensive”.
He maintains that referring to colleagues of Indian and African heritage as being “off the boat” suggested they were hired because of their background rather than merit, and says such language undermines dignity and professional respect.
According to case papers lodged in Glasgow, Mr Lyle formally reported the incident through CalMac’s grievance procedures, believing it raised issues of discrimination within the public body.
Mr Lyle says the remark was made directly in reference to named colleagues during a workplace discussion about staff requiring UK work visas and was delivered in front of witnesses shortly after their ethnic backgrounds were discussed.
He argues the reaction of those present — whom he says appeared visibly shocked — demonstrated the comment was understood as a reference to ethnicity rather than immigration administration.
According to the papers, Mr Lyle reported the incident through official grievance channels believing it raised serious issues of discrimination and public interest within a taxpayer-funded company.
But instead of action being taken against those responsible, Mr Lyle — who has type 2 diabetes requiring insulin and significant spinal mobility problems — says he became the one placed under pressure.
CalMac has rejected the claims of racism and bullying and instead accused him of acting out of retaliation after his probation was extended, according to an internal grievance ruling.
Mr Lyle claims that after raising concerns he suffered detriment, isolation and escalating workplace stress, ultimately leading to the collapse of his employment just nine months after joining the organisation.
Graham Lyle, former head of digital services at CalMac (Image: Colin Mearns)
The tribunal filing alleges the internal investigation was mishandled and appeared designed to protect senior management rather than address the complaint properly.
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“This case matters to me because I expect honesty, respect, and professionalism in the workplace, and I want to make sure those standards are upheld. Speaking up isn’t always easy, but it’s the right thing to do.”
Mr Lyle says the alleged racist remark was made during a team “get-to-know-you” meeting. According to his account, colleagues explained that two team members — one of African heritage and another of Indian heritage — required visas to work in the UK and that one application had faced delays.
An official CalMac grievance outcome letter, issued on July 2, 2025 following an internal investigation dismissed every major allegation raised by Mr Lyle.
In a response to his grievance, they say that the alleged racist comment made during a November 2024 team meeting had not been intended as discriminatory.
According to the grievance outcome, “the majority understood the comment was not ill-intended, derogatory or intimidating for any employee.”
Mr Lyle was recruited as part of efforts to modernise CalMac’s digital infrastructure — a key priority as the company attempted to overhaul booking systems, improve resilience and restore public confidence after service failures.
But his tribunal claim portrays an organisation he alleges is struggling not only operationally but culturally.
He states that after making what legally qualifies as a protected disclosure under whistleblowing legislation, he experienced significant emotional distress and deterioration in his health. He claims the stress culminated in a heart attack in May 2025 during the grievance process.
The action includes claims of whistleblowing detriment, constructive dismissal and discrimination, with Mr Lyle seeking compensation covering lost earnings, contractual payments and damages for emotional and reputational harm.
In a further escalation, the former executive has asked the tribunal to allow amendments adding disability discrimination claims under the Equality Act after alleging inappropriate comments about his health conditions during his employment.
In his written submissions he claims a member of staff questioned his disability by saying: “You don’t look disabled — what’s wrong with you?” during a meeting where he stood due to spinal pain.
The amendment request also alleges repeated references to him as a “token disabled team member” and claims reasonable adjustments linked to his diabetes and medical needs were ignored.
The allegations — which CalMac will have the opportunity to contest — land at a sensitive moment for Scotland’s ferry network. For years, island communities have accused ferry authorities of poor leadership and lack of accountability while politicians have traded blame over delayed vessels, increasing shipbuilding costs and service disruption.
The Scottish Government has repeatedly insisted there is zero tolerance for racism or discrimination across publicly owned services.
Mr Lyle says he initially believed reporting the alleged racist remark was simply the right thing to do in a modern public workplace committed to equality standards promoted by the Scottish Government itself.
Graham Lyle, former head of digital services at CalMac. (Image: Colin Mearns)
Instead he says the experience left him professionally damaged and unwell.
The short duration of his employment — less than a year — is cited as having caused reputational harm affecting future career prospects, despite him securing alternative employment shortly after leaving the ferry firm.
But CalMac’s response in a grievance report says that Mr Lyle’s complaint itself was linked to disciplinary tensions surrounding his job performance — stating bluntly that complaints only emerged after his probation period was extended.
The letter states: “It is clear to me that this allegation is motivated by your disagreement and in retaliation to that decision.”
It also rejected Lyle’s claim that staff felt unable to challenge leadership behaviour, saying investigators found “no evidence to prove this was the case” after interviewing colleagues.
The company accepted the senior staff member’s explanation that alleged racist comment was intended to emphasise that overseas staff legally employed by CalMac had the right to work in the UK, ultimately ruling the racism complaint “not upheld.”
The decision went further, suggesting Mr Lyle himself could face disciplinary scrutiny.
A CalMac spokeswoman said: “Employee wellbeing is paramount and if allegations are raised by employees they are taken seriously and thoroughly investigated. CalMac refute all allegations in relation to this case but given this matter is currently the subject of ongoing legal proceedings, it would not be appropriate to comment further.”
