Job enquiry led to sack
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• West Midlandsbased CJ Holland Contractors has been ordered to pay a lorry driver £174 in lieu of notice, following his summary dismissal because he had enquired about a job with one of the firm's customers.
A Birmingham industrial tribunal said the dismissal arose because Purshall enquired about a job at a customer while he was taking a statutory break from driving in that firm's yard. He was dissatisfied about some aspects of his job.
He was subsequently suinmari
ly dismissed for what the firm considered to be disloyalty.
Purshall was entitled to one week's pay in lieu of notice, said the Tribunal. It did not consider the firm had established his action amounted to gross misconduct justifying instant dismissal. An employee was not barred from seeking other employment, although it was better done in his own time. Purshall was not wasting his employer's time, as he was taking a recognised and compulsory break.
The tribunal said the firm's proprietor had acted on the spur of the moment as he was annoyed.