Did This Lady Deserve To Be Sacked?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2381769/Primary-school-dinner-lady-sacked-negligence-carelessness-idleness-accidentally-served-gammon-Muslim-pupil.html

A dressing down perhaps, it was not as if it was life threatening situation,
but sacked even after giving an apology, a little over the top I think, and I am not on my own apparently.

/// British Muslim groups said Ms Waldock's sacking was 'heavy-handed' and an 'overreaction'. ///

[viv38]

No, no and thrice no !! She should be reinstated immediately imo.

[tonyav]

Very heavy handed imo, hope she appeals and wins.

[Brenden]

Ridiculous, I know many muslims that drink like fish in their own homes - religion - they are "aving a larf".

[mightyWBA]

I think all us non muslims should just be shot.
Save a lot of hassle in the long run.

[Prudie]

Taken face value it's appalling but I wonder if there is stuff missing from the report to make it more shocking - gross misconduct suggests other history maybe.

[horseshoes]

Absolutely not.

[friedgreentomato]

Accidents happen, it was not intentional, therefore she should be reinstated asap.

[EcclesCake]

I know Mulims who drink alcohol, Jews who lap up a bacon buttie, and Hindus who like a Big Mac.

However, this is a child who may not have known what gammon was. The child was reliant upon the dinner lady for guidance.

The dinner lady got confused. That is a pretty poor defence, what if she had been confused about whether there were nuts in a dish with a child who is allergic?

I'm not a big fan of over egged health and safety regulations but I do suspect there is a bit more to this story. For instance we do not know the Ts&Cs of employment......which may well state one hit and you are out for transgressing cultural or medical food requirements.

[hc4361]

Is the dinner lady supposed to ask every child if s/he is Muslim before offering gammon or other pork products?

You can't tell religion by looking.

[friedgreentomato]

Eccles, i can only go on what is reported and given those facts I do think it is an over reaction.

However, I am willing to change my mind when new facts come out.

[Mamyalynne]

Based purely on what is in the article - ie, a one off mistake - I feel a sacking is undeserved.

[anotheoldgit]

/// The school's headteacher spotted the mistake as the youngster was about to tuck into the meat and swept the plate away from her. ///

/// The girl's parents were then told how close their daughter had come to eating the meat, which is banned in their religion. ///

Since no physical harm was done to the child, and the fact that the child did not even taste the meat, was there any need for the parents to be told, this matter could have been kept strictly as an internal matter, but no the parents were told, who in turn........

/// They complained to the school's catering firm and Ms Waldock, a dinner lady for 11 years, was suspended pending an investigation. ///

Since the school dinner lady has been tried and convicted, I wonder if now 'COMPENSATION' might be in order, or am I just being cynical?

[EcclesCake]

Indeed, FGT/ Mamya. In employment exceeding a year to get rid of someone they must be guilty of gross misconduct or have had warnings.

Either not everything has been reported or the employer is in the wrong.

And large catering companies who have national contracts are likely to have good HR/Legal back up to cover their backsides.

I still suspect the whole story hasn't been reported. If it has then she has indeed been treated shabbily.

A small thought, under TUPE, does your period of employment roll on? If not she may have been doing the same job but for different employers, could she be kicked out using the 12month rule (which I think has now been changed).

[LoftyLottie]

And the poor little child didn't even get to taste the lovely gammon!!! No she should not have been sacked.

[anotheoldgit]

hc4361

/// You can't tell religion by looking. ///

Don't Muslim females have their heads covered?

[mccfluff]

I;ve just been tupe's and your period of employment does roll on.

This seems weird and on the face of whats reported an OTT reaction, but we only know what has been reported

[LoftyLottie]

You are right Eccles. We don't know enough. I'm glad I don't read newspapers, especially certain newspapers who love to Sugar stir!!

[mccfluff]

"They continued: “Obviously we cannot provide all of the details surrounding the dismissal. However, as a general note, Lunchtime UK would not seek to dismiss any employee due to just one honest mistake.”

thats a quote from her employers, it hints at more to the story but that might be to make themselves look better

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Cambridge/Cambridge-dinner-lady-sacked-for-accidentally-serving-pork-to-Muslim-pupil-20130731115638.htm