The Star reports that a former employee of retailer Woolworths lost her appeal at the Labour Court after she was dismissed for calling two cashiers dumb.

Gladys Arunachellam, who worked as a supervisor, was employed by Woolworths for 28 years. Another store manager, Dennis Mkhize said the incident was reported to him by an aggrieved employee, Phumelela Kweyama. He testified that Kweyama said that she was coming back from lunch when she saw Arunachellam standing with a person named Sheryl, and two trainees, Taarik and Claudia. She overhead Sheryl telling Arunachellam to take Taarik and Claudia because she was done with them in her department. Kweyama said Arunachellam responded by saying: “Not today, because I have got a bunch of dumb people working there today.” Mkhize then initiated an investigation. Arunachellam denied using the word ‘dumb’ when referring to the cashiers; she said she used the word ‘confused’. Only one witness – Sheryl – testified in support of Arunachellam. Acting judge ET Mhlongo who presided over the matter, found that the dismissal had been fair. However, the judge also found that Woolworths had failed to give Arunachellam enough time to prepare for her case. “I aver that the 15 minutes given to the applicant (Arunachellam) was not enough. The commissioner failed to apply his mind when dealing with the question of procedural fairness. I am therefore inclined to award the applicant compensation of three months’ salary for failure to adhere to normal procedure, which is payable within 30 days from the date of this judgment,“ said the judge.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard at The Star

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