Pretoria - Fast food outlet chain Nando’s said it would respect the Labour Court overturning the dismissal of its kitchen worker who ate two slices of carrot.
“We respect the findings in concluding this matter. We will manage further correspondence with the former employee and discuss the verdict of reinstatement,” Nando’s spokesperson Cheryl Reddy said.
Ntokozo Gwala was fired four years ago from Nando’s Scottsville branch in Pietermaritzburg for eating the two slices of carrot. He was a front griller and a community forum representative at the time.
He explained that he took two slices of carrot from the pan of hot water and ate them as he wanted to taste before it was served to customers.
According to him, the carrots were still frozen in the middle and he discarded them in the dustbin.
He was charged with gross misconduct, being the unauthorised consumption of company stock.
The chairperson of the hearing found him guilty and ordered that he should be summarily fired.
Gwala, however, turned to the CCMA where the commissioner found the dismissal to be unfair and ordered his reinstatement.
Nando’s took the matter to the Labour Court sitting in Pietermaritzburg to have this verdict overturned. The court, however, upheld the CCMA’s verdict.
In response to the outcome of the case, Reddy said integrity was a founding value at Nando’s.
“For us, this means doing the right thing even when no one is watching. We firmly believe this results in us being able to deliver the best quality and experience, every time, not only for our consumers but also for our Nandocas (our employees).”
She said the outlet’s code of conduct for employees details its health and safety standards and processes, which did not allow employees on duty to consume any of the products which Nando’s sells while working.
“This is key to ensuring behavioural and commercial integrity for the benefit of all employees and consumers of Nando’s.”
She added that to facilitate this, Nando’s provided restaurant employees with meals for every shift worked. These meals were consumed during allocated breaks included in the scheduling of their work shifts.
“When Nando’s dismissed the employee in question, a fair disciplinary process was followed, and the case was presided over by an independent chairperson. We were under the impression that the employee’s actions warranted dismissal in the circumstances.”
Reddy said in addition to this, it was believed that this action could potentially affect the health standards policy of the products the outlet produces, therefore putting consumers at risk.
However, she said, Nando’s respected the final findings in this matter.
Pretoria News