Bloke wins £22,000 after unfair dismissal for alleged vaping in toilets
A former Nestle employee won over £22,000 after a tribunal deemed his dismissal for alleged vaping unfair and disproportionate.Summary
Luke Billings, a former Nestle employee with 11 years of service, was awarded £22,216.72 after being unfairly dismissed for allegedly vaping in company toilets. The incident, occurring in October 2023, triggered a fire alarm, causing evacuation and production suspension. While CCTV footage suggested Mr. Billings was responsible, he denied vaping at work, admitting only to occasional weekend vaping at home. The tribunal acknowledged a proper internal investigation but found the dismissal unfair because Mr. Billings’ refusal to apologize, rather than the act itself, seemed to be the primary reason for the severe punishment. Furthermore, the tribunal noted the dismissal was excessive given his otherwise spotless record and a contrasting situation where another employee committing a health and safety breach was not dismissed after admitting fault and apologizing.
(Source：The daily Star)
