Student sacked for being white

Posted:

21 February 2012

by Stephen Gregory

A student from Birmingham has been awarded compensation after an employment tribunal found that he was sacked merely for being white.

David O’Neill, a 19-year-old student at Staffordshire University, had his shifts dramatically cut at the Ocean Dragon Chinese restaurant as a new manager allocated the hours to Chinese employees.

After representing himself at the employment tribunal he was awarded a sum of £5,322.89, which as of yet the restaurant has not paid — if it fails to do so a bailiff will be sent to the restaurant by the High Court.

“From the end of October 2010, a new Chinese manager was appointed as general manager who cut my hours dramatically and those of other white staff, until I was given no hours whatsoever after November 2010,” O’Neill said.

“Although I kept contacting the manager, she kept informing me that there were no hours available but she would be in touch.”

He felt as though he was left no other option but to take legal action after he realised that he was being discriminated against on ethnic grounds.

“I sent a letter of complaint to the company outlining my concerns and they denied all knowledge of me even working at the company. As the company seemed to completely disregard and push my grievances aside, I felt I had no option but to begin legal proceedings.”

In a legal battle against the restaurant which dragged on for 6 months, Mr O’Neill sued for discrimination, unfair dismissal, failure to issue a contract of employment and unauthorised deductions.