A KFC franchise operator has been ordered to pay almost £70,000 in compensation after an employment tribunal ruled that a manager subjected an Indian employee to racial harassment, including calling him a 'slave'.
The Details of the Case
The London tribunal heard that Madhesh Ravichandran started his job at the KFC outlet in West Wickham in January 2023. It was not long before he was allegedly made to work hours exceeding those stipulated in his contract.
In March 2023, his request for annual leave was denied. Judge Paul Abbott found this refusal was 'significantly influenced' by the fact Mr Ravichandran was Indian. During this period, the worker overheard his boss, Kajan Theiventhiram, tell a colleague he would prioritise staff who were Sri Lankan Tamil.
The tribunal was told Mr Theiventhiram also referred to Mr Ravichandran using deeply offensive language, describing him as 'a shit' and a 'slave'. Judge Abbott concluded the employee was left 'upset and humiliated' by the treatment.
A Culture of Prejudice and Inaction
The judge further determined that Mr Ravichandran was forced to work excessive overtime because his boss held a 'racially prejudiced' attitude towards him. After enduring months of this treatment, Mr Ravichandran resigned from his position.
Following his departure, he brought claims for wrongful dismissal centred on race discrimination, racial harassment, and victimisation. The tribunal found that no proper investigation was conducted by the company into his serious allegations after he left.
The Tribunal's Ruling and Consequences
As a result of the successful claims, the employment tribunal awarded Madhesh Ravichandran £66,800 in compensation. Furthermore, Nexus Foods Limited, the company operating the KFC franchise, was ordered to implement a comprehensive training programme focused on discrimination for its staff.
This case highlights the severe financial and reputational repercussions for businesses that fail to address discrimination and harassment in the workplace.
