Driver sacking was justified
Page 12
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• A Leeds Industrial Tribunal has ruled that Plowman Brothers was right to sack driver Stephen Cork after a complaint from one of its main customers.
Proprietor David Plowman said the firm operated four vehicles: two on livestock work, one on continental work and one, driven by Cork, on a contract carrying dough to 20 Cookie Jar shops. The company had recently lost a major contract and Cookie Jar represented 20% of its remaining turnover.
He had received a phone call from the managing director of Cookie Jar, making serious complaints about Cork's behaviour when visiting Cookie Jar shops. When he asked Cork for an explanation none was forthcoming.
6 6
For Cork, it was argued that Plowman had made insufficient investigation of the circumstances, that he had not followed proper procedures leading up to the dismissal, and that he should have considered swapping Cork's duties with another driver.
The tribunal said it was not possible for Plowman to investigate further by interviewing Cookie Jar staff. It was satisfied that he believed a large share of his business was in danger. The other drivers had been with Plowman's longer than Cork and were totally suited to their particular jobs: it was not feasible for a firm of this size to ask drivers to change places. That could easily have led to further complications.