In a significant ruling, a KFC franchisee located in south-east London has been ordered to pay nearly £70,000 after a manager referred to an Indian employee as a „slave“ and compelled him to work additional hours, as revealed during tribunal proceedings.
Madhesh Ravichandran, originally from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, commenced his employment at the West Wickham KFC branch in January 2023. By March of the same year, Mr. Ravichandran’s request for annual leave was denied. The tribunal heard that his supervisor, Kajan Theiventhiram, was overheard by Mr. Ravichandran, expressing a preference for Sri Lankan Tamil staff and derogatorily labeling the claimant as „this slave“.
Tribunal Findings
Tribunal judge Paul Abbott determined that Mr. Ravichandran experienced wrongful dismissal alongside direct racial discrimination, harassment related to race, and victimization.
Subsequent to the derogatory remarks, Mr. Ravichandran chose to resign, however, the tribunal concluded that a genuine investigation into his complaints did not occur. Judge Abbott stated that he was „upset and humiliated,“ noting that the denial of his leave request was „significantly influenced“ by his race.
Compensation and Recommendations
Judge Abbott acknowledged the claimant’s assertion that he was compelled to work excessive hours due to Mr. Theiventhiram’s „racially prejudiced attitude“. As a result, Mr. Ravichandran was awarded £66,800 in compensation. Furthermore, the tribunal advised that Nexus Foods Limited, the operator of the West Wickham KFC, should implement a training program for all staff focused on workplace discrimination.
Bildquelle: Foto von Georg Eiermann auf Unsplash
