Harrods guard wins “coffee” case in employment tribunal

A Harrods security guard, John Perrett, was awarded £18,000 by an employment tribunal but was not reinstated in his job after claiming that he was unfairly dismissed for gross misconduct.

Mr Perrett said he was following health and safety rules when he stopped merchandise manager Caroline Lyons and PA Chloe Marsh from carrying coffee through the department store. He told the Central London employment tribunal that when he stopped the women going through a staff check area into the store they had been rude and aggressive.

Three weeks later Ms Marsh made a complaint that Mr Perrett was “aggressive, dismissive, patronising and rude”. Mr Perrett claimed he was the subject of a “witch hunt” and claimed sex discrimination on the grounds that the women’s allegations that he had been aggressive were believed and his claims discounted “because he is a man”.

The tribunal found that he had been unfairly dismissed but that he had not been a victim of sex discrimination.

A Harrods spokesman said: “We are pleased the health and safety and sexual discrimination cases against Harrods were rejected, and although disappointed the tribunal found Mr Perrett to have been unfairly dismissed, we are satisfied with the decision not to reinstate employment.”

Employment Law Barrister - myBarrister