Sacked for refusing money
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• A lorry driver sacked for refusing to collect a cheque from a customer has been awarded £3,789.80 compensation for unfair dismissal by a Birmingham industrial tribunal.
The tribunal was told that from time to time drivers employed by Sabah Timber (Midlands and Wales) were required to collect cash and cheques from customers. The driver concerned, John Griffiths, did so under protest, being concerned about the safety of the money while he was unloading his lorry.
In November 1985 he was given a verbal warning after a customer complained that he had refused to accept a cheque. He was told that the company had insurance both for personal injury and loss of cash and the regional director said he would investigate the possibility of providing a safe place in the vehicles where the money could be kept On November 28 he was told he would have to collect cash from a customer the following day. Arrangements were made for the payment to be made by cheque, however, and Griffiths was told of the change on the following day. He said that he was prepared to make the delivery but he refused to collect the cheque. He was warned twice of the consequences but he maintained his refusal and was dismissed.
The company argued that the dismissal was fair because Griffiths had failed to carry out a reasonable instruction.
Holding the dismissal was unfair the tribunal said it accepted that the instructions given were legitimate and reasonable, but no consideration was given to Griffiths' record of service; his union representative was riot advised; the warnings were incorrect as they were only put into writing with the letter of dismissal and Griffiths was not advised of his rights.