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14-08-2009

Employee who took iPod as a joke was unfairly dismissed

An investigation meeting was cancelled after an employee admitted taking an iPod as a practical joke. She was dismissed following a Disciplinary Hearing.

Her dismissal was unfair because the employer had not investigated her explanation, as a reasonable employer should have done.

What is reasonable will depend on the circumstances. An admission of theft would not require further investigation of the incident, but here the employee had an alternative explanation for her behaviour.

If you need advice on dismissals, please contact us – we would be pleased to talk to you.

Contacts:

Employment Department

Raj Dhokia: r.dhokia@fgdlaw.co.uk
Martin Fine: m.fine@fgdlaw.co.uk

Compass Group UK and Ireland Limited v Okoro [2009]