Worker accused of vaping in Nestle factory toilets wins £22k tribunal payout
A former Nestle worker, Luke Billings, won over £22,000 after being unfairly dismissed for allegedly vaping in the factory toilets.Summary
Luke Billings, a technical operator at Nestle's Hatton factory, was dismissed in October 2023 after being accused of vaping in the toilets, leading to a temporary production halt. He denied the allegation but was found to be lying by his employers. An employment tribunal ruled the dismissal disproportionate, citing his previously unblemished career and the fact he was on a phased return from sick leave due to depression. While Nestle had reasonable grounds for suspicion, the tribunal found the dismissal for not apologizing was unreasonable, as there was no clear policy stating vaping in toilets was gross misconduct. Although Billings's actions contributed to his dismissal, the tribunal emphasized that failing to apologize is not misconduct in itself. Discrimination claims based on disability were not proven. Nestle declined to comment on the individual case.
(Source：The Bbc)
