UK KFC Worker Awarded £66,800 After Racial Discrimination and Wrongful Dismissal

Image Source: Internet

A London KFC employee has been awarded £66,800 in compensation after a tribunal found that he was subjected to racial discrimination and wrongful dismissal. Madhesh Ravichandran, who hails from Tamil Nadu, claimed that his manager at a West Wickham KFC outlet called him a 'slave' and forced him to work extra hours without pay. The tribunal also ruled that Ravichandran's annual leave request was unfairly denied due to his race. According to the BBC, Ravichandran overheard his boss, Kajan Theiventhiram, telling another colleague that he would prioritize staff of Sri Lankan Tamil origin and referred to Ravichandran as 'this slave.' The tribunal judge, Paul Abbott, found that Ravichandran was a victim of racial discrimination and harassment, and that his refusal of leave was 'significantly influenced' by his race. Ravichandran resigned from his job after months of alleged harassment, but no proper investigation was conducted into the matter. The tribunal accepted his evidence that he was forced to work extra hours due to his boss's 'racially prejudiced attitude.' In addition to the compensation, the judge recommended that all employees of Nexus Foods Limited, the company that operates the KFC branch, receive training on workplace discrimination. This ruling serves as a reminder of the importance of creating a safe and inclusive work environment, free from racial discrimination and harassment. The UK government has implemented laws to protect workers from such behavior, and cases like Ravichandran's highlight the need for employers to take these laws seriously and provide a fair and respectful workplace.