Couple sue for race discrimination after coming home from an unauthorised holiday tanned | UK | News
After an unauthorized holiday in Bulgaria, a couple dismissed by Waitrose tried to sue the supermarket for race discrimination – claiming that they were treated unfair because they returned to work with “tanned skin”. However, an Employment Court rejected the strange claim, deciding that Peter Hedger and Katerina Dimitrova had not been able to return from a rejected permission request and that it was misleading about the misleading bosses for about two months.
The Birmingham Court heard that the couple had applied for leave from 2 September 2023 on 2 September 2023. However, in late August, Mrs. Dimitrova went to Bulgaria, her own country, and could not return as expected. The couple remained in contact with their colleagues between 9 September and 29 October, but never explained that they were abroad – only after returning to England. Waitrose, who belonged to John Lewis Partnership, then rejected both employees and referred to as the reasons for the termination of unauthorized absence and fraud.
The company argued that the couple initially claimed that they were home hunting in the UK, but it turned out to be wrong. A letter from the company’s appeal officer said: um I suspect you went to Bulgaria during your authorized permission and decided to stay longer. ”
The couple tried to racially motivate their dismissal because they were discriminated against because of their nationalities and returned with “tanned skin”. However, the court clearly rejected, Mailonline.
Employment judge Naeema Choudry said: “The reason for dismissal was not due to the fact that the plaintiffs were in Bulgaria, but because they were believed to be lacking for a good reason… Not because they were perceived because they were on holiday when the plaintiffs should be in the workplace.”
“A claim based on Bulgarian citizenship of Mrs. Dimitrova has no expectation of a reasonable success and appeared. In addition, the claim of ‘Tanned Skin’ is also pleased that there is no reasonable expectation of success and that it should be eliminated.”
The panel confirmed that the couple violated the company policy, and unauthorized absenteeism was clearly listed in gross abuse in John Lewis, working.
Mr. Hedger claimed that he and his partner had extended their stay because they did not have a fixed place to live in England. He told the court that both of them have not worked since their dismissal and that they have fought financially, in part only in the same shifts.
Both race discrimination and allegations of harassment and unfair dismissal allegations were fired.
However, Ms. Dimitrova’s claim to accompany the disciplinary and appeal hearings will continue to a separate hearing at a later date.
