Search
Close this search box.

HR advisor wins discrimination claim after being sacked over chicken nuggets row

An employment tribunal heard how Steven Smith was left “shocked” and “disillusioned” at the size of the £1.99 portion he was handed at the Teleperformance office canteen. When he queried why others were getting four or five nuggets, he said he felt “antagonised” when he was told he could get three more for an extra 99p.

In the case of Smith v Teleperformance Ltd, Steven Smith has won more than £5000 after he was sacked for complaining about only getting three chicken nuggets for lunch.

An employment tribunal heard how Steven Smith was left “shocked” and “disillusioned” at the size of the £1.99 portion he was handed at the Teleperformance office canteen. When he queried why others were getting four or five nuggets, he said he felt “antagonised” when he was told he could get three more for an extra 99p.

Mr Smith, who was suspended that day pending an investigation, was accused of having “acted aggressively” towards a female member of staff. The woman who served him the meal told the tribunal he had “forcefully” pushed the box of food away and “stormed off” leaving her “stomach churning”.

The incident was reported to the company and Mr Smith was later sacked under the grounds of gross misconduct, claiming he had acted “violently”.

However, the employment tribunal, held remotely, ruled in Mr Smith’s favour, stating: “Having carefully reflected upon this and considered the evidence led before the Tribunal I have concluded that the respondent’s investigation fell outwith the range of responses open to a reasonable employer.”

Read more

Latest News

Read More

A Four-Day Working Week in the Construction Industry?

29 March 2024

Newsletter

Receive the latest HR news and strategic content

Please note, as per the GDPR Legislation, we need to ensure you are ‘Opted In’ to receive updates from ‘theHRDIRECTOR’. We will NEVER sell, rent, share or give away your data to third parties. We only use it to send information about our products and updates within the HR space To see our Privacy Policy – click here

Latest HR Jobs

University of Warwick – WMGSalary: £23,144 to £25,138 per annum This provides summary information and comment on the subject areas covered. Where employment tribunal and

The Open University – People ServicesSalary: £57,696 to £64,914 + up to £8,000 per annum MRP supplement* This provides summary information and comment on the

Cardiff UniversitySalary: Competitive This provides summary information and comment on the subject areas covered. Where employment tribunal and appellate court cases are reported, the information

University of Oxford – Oxford Department of International DevelopmentSalary: £28,759 to £33,966 (Grade 5) This provides summary information and comment on the subject areas covered.

Read the latest digital issue of theHRDIRECTOR for FREE

Read the latest digital issue of theHRDIRECTOR for FREE