Legal News

Stephanie Morrison who worked as a senior assistant chef filed a case against her employers Bromsgrove catering firm claiming compensation for unfair dismissal lost it in the employment tribunal.
Miss Morrisson of Woodlands Road, Cookley, made her claim against Class Catering Services Ltd, of Weston Hall Road, Stoke Prior, at Birmingham Employment Tribunal, alleging health and safety allegations.
She was employed by the firm to work at their kitchens based at Haybridge High School, in Hagley. The company provided catering services to a number of organisations, including educational institutions.
She alleged that she was dismissed after making health and safety disclosures about the way food was used.
In a previous tribunal hearing Mrs Victoria Dean the tribunal judge had adjourned for a later date and subsequently rejected the claim as long and winding. She described Miss Morrison as a thorn in the respondent’s side in the kitchens operation.
She added that it was clear that she not only raised number of concerns in cooking arena but also persistently sought to challenge authority and her behaviour was disruptive and unwelcome within the kitchen unit, said Mrs Dean.
One of Miss Morrison’s allegations was that rice cooked the week before was reheated and used six days later.
Mrs Dean said that the respondent had confirmed the rice was being used cold on the salad bar.
However, the judge said Miss Morrison had not been dismissed because of her disclosures.
While sympathising with the claimant the judge said they were mindful also that her recollection of events in 2010 seems to have kept growing in detail with the passage of time, Mrs Dean said.
The judge complained the tribunal had difficulties adjudicating the evidence because the respondents failed fully to minute Miss Morrison’s disciplinary hearing, and suggested the firm "may do well" to review their procedures for recording appraisal meetings and the conduct of disciplinary hearings.