Kidderminster baker claims unfair dismissal in compensation bid (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Kidderminster baker claims unfair dismissal in compensation bid

7:20am Friday 14th September 2012 in News

A KIDDERMINSTER baker who was sacked after leaving a Sainsbury’s store for less than two minutes while on the night shift to get money for coffee is waiting to hear if he has won his compensation claim for unfair dismissal.

Sainsbury’s alleged at a Birmingham Employment Tribunal hearing that Steven Tyler, of Quantock Drive, Kidderminster, had left the store without permission, which he denied.

The store had a strict policy about employees leaving the premises without permission and Mr Tyler was dismissed for breaching the regulations, it was said but Mr Tyler, who sought compensation against Sainsbury’s for unfair dismissal, insisted he had been given permission to leave.

Mr Tyler normally worked as a baker on the night shift at Sainsbury’s store at Kidderminster but had been transferred to the firm’s store at Amblecote, Stourbridge, on a temporary basis because the Kidderminster store was being refurbished at the time.

During the first night at the Amblecote store Mr Tyler said he needed to get his money from his friend’s car for coffee in the firm’s premises and left his job for less than two minutes. The friend had taken Mr Tyler to Amblecote.

He said he had been given permission to leave, in the early hours, by an employee who was said to be in charge.

The tribunal was told that Mr Tyler was aware of the firm’s policy about leaving without permission and would not have put his job in jeopardy for the sake of a cup of coffee if he had not received permission.

He was later dismissed for misconduct but tribunal judge John Keith was told that there was a query about how the firm carried out its investigation into the matter.

The respondents opposed Mr Tyler’s compensation claim and accused him of failing to identify the person who gave him permission.

The firm said employees could only leave the premises during the night with official permission because of security and health and safety regulations.

Mr Tyler was said to have suffered emotionally as a result of losing his job but now had another job.

Mr Keith said the tribunal would make a decision at a later date.