Chicken nugget firing: HR advisor wins £5,000 payout after 3 nugget gripe

9 September 2021, 09:01

HR advisor Steven Smith was sacked after complaining that he was not a "kid" and wanted more than three chicken nuggets for lunch.
HR advisor Steven Smith was sacked after complaining that he was not a "kid" and wanted more than three chicken nuggets for lunch. Picture: Alamy

By Joe Cook

An HR advisor has been awarded £5,000 after being sacked after he challenged a company dinner lady who gave him just three chicken nuggets for lunch.

Steven Smith, 30, ordered chicken nuggets, chips, beans and cheese for lunch during a 12-hour shift at Teleperformance Limited in September 2019.

But a shocked Mr Smith “stormed off” after he was given just three nuggets, telling an employment tribunal he was left feeling “antagonised” when he was told he could get three more for an extra 99p.

Read more: 'Cancelled': Charity set up in Winston Churchill's honour overhauled in 'woke attack'

Read more: Priti Patel sanctions 'pushback tactics' to send migrant boats back to France

He “advised” the dinner lady he was not a “kid” and “forcefully pushed the box back”, adding: “If I wanted a happy meal I would go to McDonald’s”.

The dinner lady later complained about his behaviour, saying it left her “almost afraid to come into work”, with her stomach “churning”.

'Is Gavin Williamson racist or incompetent?'

Teleperformance sacked Mr Smith for gross misconduct, accusing him of having “acted violently”.

However, an employment tribunal has now ruled in Mr Smith’s favour, concluding: "Having carefully reflected upon this and considered the evidence led before the tribunal I have concluded that the respondent’s investigation fell outside the range of responses open to a reasonable employer."

Read more: TfL issues warning over razors hidden behind anti-vax propaganda posters

Read more: Gavin Williamson admits 'mistake' after confusing Marcus Rashford for black rugby player

Nick Ferrari confronts Vaccine Minister over office working

It added that the company “placed significant weight” on the fact that Mr Smith had been “red faced” making the dinner lady believe he was angry.

But the judge said that Mr Smith had told Teleperformance he has health issues that can cause his face to go red.

The company has been ordered to pay £5,181.60 to Mr Smith in compensation.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Near-Earth asteroid, artwork

NASA scientist reveals list of countries that face being hit by huge 'city killer' asteroid the size of Big Ben

'Uncle Sam isn't Uncle Sucker,' US tells Nato - as Ukraine admits it 'won't accept' US-Russia deal without seat at table

'Uncle Sam isn't Uncle Sucker,' US tells Nato - as Zelenskyy says Trump-Putin deal to end war 'must involve Ukraine'

This illustrative image shows Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and United States President Donald Trump (right).

Donald Trump is 'setting preconditions for withdrawing from NATO', his former advisor tells LBC

Semina Halliwell

Girl, 12, who died of overdose after reporting being raped was 'betrayed' by authorities, mother claims

Farishta Jami, 36, pictured, pledged allegiance to Islamic State and had a 'clear interest in the use of children in warfare'

British mother, 36, who tried to move family to Afghanistan to become ISIS martyrs found guilty of terror offences

Jaysley Beck, 19, was found dead at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire

Soldier, 19, 'pinned down' by sergeant 'lost faith' after his only punishment was writing apology letter

Michael Steele, who was jailed for life in 1998 for the killings of Tony Tucker, Pat Tate and Craig Rolfe, can be released from prison, the Parole Board has said.

'Essex Boys' killer Michael Steele to be released from prison 27 years after triple gangland murders

Ukraine 'won't accept any agreements' between Trump and Putin to end war without being involved, says Zelenskyy

Ukraine 'won't accept any agreements' between Trump and Putin to end war without being involved, says Zelenskyy

Naya Rivera

Glee star Naya Rivera's heartbreaking final words to her son before she drowned revealed

Kanye West

There can be no debate about Kanye West - he clearly hates Jewish people and should be challenged on it

The young man was swallowed by a whale

Shocking moment whale swallows kayaker whole before spitting him back out

Deise Moura has been arrested on suspicion of killing her relatives with a poisonous Christmas cake

Woman accused of murder after 'Christmas cake poisoning' that killed three is found dead in prison cell

Ex-Met and West Mercia Police constable Mark Cranfield was found guilty of misconduct charges for pestering a revenge porn victim and keeping intimate video and naked images of her on his work phone

'I'm glad I got to see the pictures': Ex constable 'pestered' revenge porn victim and kept naked images of her on his phone

What if Ukraine were the UK? Could you accept surrendering a fifth of our country to Putin after so much sacrifice?

What if Ukraine were the UK? Could you accept surrendering a fifth of our country to Putin after so much sacrifice?

Tranyelle Harshman, 32, of Wyoming, left her fourth daughter fighting for her life after going on a rampage at their home on Monday.

'She loved those kids': Husband breaks silence to defend mother who killed her children

Brothers Mohammed Fahir Amaaz and Muhammad Amaad arriving at Liverpool Crown Court

Brothers deny assaulting police officers in viral video at Manchester Airport