Nestle factory worker sacked for sparking evacuation by vaping wins £22,000 payout
Metro.co.uk
A Nestle factory worker unfairly dismissed after setting off a fire alarm while vaping received a £22,000 payout.Summary
Luke Billings, a Nestle factory worker with over a decade of service, was awarded £22,216 after an employment tribunal ruled his dismissal was wrongful. He was fired for gross misconduct after CCTV footage showed him vaping in a bathroom, triggering a fire alarm and causing a production shutdown. While Nestle cited health and safety breaches, loss of trust due to Billings’ initial denial, and production loss as reasons for dismissal, the tribunal found that the firing was not linked to a disability, as Billings was returning from a year of sick leave for depression. Although his disability discrimination claim was not upheld, the tribunal determined the dismissal was unfair, and he was also reimbursed for lost earnings.
(Source：Metro.co.uk)
