As reported in the Irish Independent a Dunnes Stores employee sacked from her job after she was caught on camera eating €10 worth of chicken goujons and other hot food from the deli counter, has taken a case for unfair dismissal against the company.
Karen Deegan had worked in the Knocknacarra, Galway, branch of Dunnes for four years prior to losing her job in October 2011. She was one of up to nine employees to lose their jobs over eating unpaid-for food. An employment appeals tribunal heard how management had installed a CCTV camera unbeknown to staff after an anonymous phone call to head office stated that staff at the deli counter were eating food.
Store manager Ken Teehan told the tribunal the incident had been a serious breach of company policy and resulted in the investigation meeting on October 7, 2011. During it, Ms Deegan readily admitted she had consumed the food and that it had been going on since the previous Christmas. He said the matter was so serious that later that same day he began a disciplinary meeting with Ms Deegan. She was suspended on full pay and told to report back to the store the following day. On that occasion, assistant store manager Louise Mannion completed the disciplinary meeting and took the decision to terminate Ms Deegan's employment.
The tribunal heard that for up to a year prior to this the store had a problem with food being taken from the deli without being paid for. But the extent of the problem only came to light after the CCTV camera had been installed and Ms Deegan was the first person caught. Mr Teehan confirmed that seven or eight other employees were also found to be breaching policy in this manner and were also sacked.
The tribunal retired to consider its verdict. it will be interesting to read this decision when released as the failure to notify the employees of the CCTV could be seen as a breach of Data Protection and overall dismissal could be seen as disproportionate given the previous good record. On the other hand the consistency of dismissing all employees involved could stand in the employers favour.
