Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Being hateful is not illegal.

"THE head chef of the retail and restaurant company Avoca has said he sacked a member of his kitchen staff after she declared: "I hate the gays."

John Dunne told an employment tribunal yesterday that he was shocked by the "prehistoric" attitude of former chef de partie Ewa Leks and terminated her employment after a series of run-ins with staff."



I was reading the following story this morning and it has me flummoxed.
There is no doubt that I find Ewa Leks views ridiculous, but is she not entitled to them? Now, if she was sacked for being a poor employee then so be it, but because she holds personal views that don't tally with mine? Hmm, can't be sure about that. If she refused to work with or hire gay or black people I'd be comfortable with her being booted out on her bigoted racist arse, but simply for being one?
Of course an employer must be able to have staff that work well together, and if someone is effecting the work of everyone he or she should be able to remove the problem. Hmm, yes, I'm okay with that.

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35 Comments:

Blogger morgor said...

The homophobic chef might have a case against them for unfair dismissal alright.

9:46 a.m.  
Blogger fatmammycat said...

She might, especially if she was not prewarned about her behaviour.

9:50 a.m.  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Generally, the law protects a persons right to hold any opinions they wish, no matter how repugnant they may be to others.

However, under the law governing Incitement to Hatred, there are limits to what it is acceptable to express in a public place - be it a workplace or other...

Unfortunately, when having to listen to racist / homophobic crap, my natural reaction is likely to get me in trouble with the laws governing Incitement to punch someone's lights out...

10:05 a.m.  
Blogger fatmammycat said...

I don't think she's inciting anyone to anything though, she's just revealing herself to be a hateful person.
Personally I'd tell her to shut her yap if I was working with her, but demand that she be sacked? Nope.

10:12 a.m.  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

No - not demand she be sacked - just demand she shut up...!

The recent election of Biffo Obama has highlighted an undercurrent of racism in Ireland that is particularly offensive...

10:30 a.m.  
Blogger fatmammycat said...

You don't need to scratch too much off the surface to find that Beady.
Brrr it's bloody cold.

10:36 a.m.  
Blogger morgor said...

he issued her with formal written warnings after complaints. He said he did not pay too much heed to the reports at first and she was a great worker. But following numerous complaints by members of staff, he eventually issued her with notice of termination ...

ah ok, reading the article, it looks like she was being racist and insulting to members of staff so i reckon she's fooooked.

10:38 a.m.  
Blogger fatmammycat said...

Aye, but he issued her with a notice of termination without a written warning first, which I believe he needs to do to address the problems his staff was having.
I'm no expert however on these matter however and could cope with being corrected.
I am cold though.

10:49 a.m.  
Blogger Unknown said...

Oh we all have our leks and disleks....


Sorry.



Chilly, just a bit.

10:53 a.m.  
Blogger morgor said...

he issued her with formal written warnings after complaints.

10:55 a.m.  
Blogger fatmammycat said...

Heh, the paramour just emailed me to say he would most probably have to go to the bathroom at some point and he was most likely 'going to have a poosicle'
Sigh, I do lek when he shares his inner thought with me. I lek it just fine.
-2 in Blessington earlier. Eeep.

10:56 a.m.  
Blogger fatmammycat said...

Ah, cheers Morgor, the cold has fried my reading comprehension.

10:56 a.m.  
Blogger Unknown said...

That's an abbreviated poopsicle, I suppose.



You could refer to him as the Parapoop, just for today?

11:00 a.m.  
Blogger fatmammycat said...

He really doesn't need the encouragement.
(Listening to Pot Kenny is not nearly as blood boiling as Newstalk.
Huzzah, they're bitching about cyclists and FAS, a brief foray onto Newstalk this morning reveled Tom D wittering on about how fearful he was of music post 1984 'e hee hee hee'.)

11:11 a.m.  
Blogger Unknown said...

Oh Pot's on a winner at the mo after his interview with that Fas sponger/CEO yesterday.

Newsquawk and ToadyFM don't like to upset anyone, ever, so they don't cover 'issues'. Tom would be best off to return to his 8pm music slot.

11:18 a.m.  
Blogger fatmammycat said...

I cannot believe Molloy's attitude, unreal.

11:26 a.m.  
Blogger Unknown said...

There's one set of rules for the little people on (or running) Fas CE Schemes. And then there's no rules at all for the high and mightys because they see what the politicians are at and want the same silver service.

11:34 a.m.  
Blogger fatmammycat said...

Is Molloy related to Cowen's wife do you think?

11:36 a.m.  
Blogger Unknown said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

11:40 a.m.  
Blogger Unknown said...

Hadn't heard any suggestion of that... is her surname Molloy or is she a frequent flier?

11:42 a.m.  
Blogger fatmammycat said...

Maiden name I believe. No idea of flying regularities. I'm just surprised about Cowen's response.

11:43 a.m.  
Blogger Unknown said...

Cowen's a burbling fool. Folks in the Dept of Finance had no time for him. He used to be a regular with MaryCoughlan up in the Step Inn. The best you could say for him is that he'd make a better opposition leader than Taoiseach.

11:47 a.m.  
Blogger fatmammycat said...

Indeed. Right, to the gym!

12:01 p.m.  
Blogger ovak30 said...

if a persons behaviour is deemed to be of an extreme nature, thieving , bullying , racism etc they can be given the bullet with no fear of a backlash. I know all of the people involved and that bird was as mad as a bag of rats!

12:15 p.m.  
Blogger fatmammycat said...

She does sound it, perhaps you should give us more details of her carry on. I know I'd enjoy them.

3:07 p.m.  
Blogger Pat said...

Whatever happened to freedom of speech?
And who's this Molloy fellow? it's my granny's maiden name - could he be a relative - from Ballyna?

3:43 p.m.  
Blogger fatmammycat said...

Pat-The Molloy fellow is the head honcho with FAS, a sort of governmental department for getting people back to work. He and his wife and various other cronies racked up considerable expense over the last year fling about first class and staying in top notch hotels-despite the fact that his wife, Mrs Molloy does not in any way shape of form WORK for FAS.
When called on it he got belligerent and said he hadn't broken any rules any everyone does it.
Then Cowen- our PM- backed him on it to a certain extent.

4:19 p.m.  
Blogger Megan McGurk said...

Yes, let's hear the dirt, Ovak30!

7:37 p.m.  
Blogger laughykate said...

You can choose not to hire someone for being an idiot, but you can't fire them for being one.

We have just been interviewing potential new people at work and questions like, 'Are you are homophobic racist?' haven't occurred to me.

8:15 p.m.  
Blogger fatmammycat said...

You'd imagine it should be the very first question on the application form.

8:38 p.m.  
Blogger Manuel said...

I hate Avoca.....

11:31 p.m.  
Blogger morgor said...

Isn't it funny* how people paid the most make the most expense claims.

Whereas regular workers have to pay for expenses incurred themselves...

*by funny I mean enraging

PS : I made the mistake of wandering into Avoca before and the stench of D4 shit made me leave.

9:07 a.m.  
Blogger fatmammycat said...

I've never been there.
Molloy has resigned, Inda Kenny is about to gloat on Pot Kenny.

10:05 a.m.  
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