These included references to peers’ weight, using the term ‘chubs’, talk of ‘fat club’ and fake certificates left in the office praising the ‘winner of the week’.

The worker who complained about Mr Ogden was said to have given “as good as (he) got”.

Judge Shergill found that there was no real enforcement by managers of the standards and norms expected in the workplace and that some senior staff were part of the problem.

He ruled that the firm did not follow a reasonably fair procedure before firing him in October 2023.

“The complainant has not so far been brought to justice over the comments and this has probably led to a false sense of security that it is not a disciplinary matter,” he said.

“Everyone in the office suggested that the complainant was the one who didn’t have a chair when the music stopped.

“There was a real sense that he was being made an example of, which in the context of the free-for-all and the significant failures in the process was unreasonable.”

Another hearing will be held to decide how much compensation Mr Ogden is entitled to.