An Indian national working at a KFC outlet in London has been awarded a substantial compensation of nearly £67,000 (over ₹81 lakh) after an employment tribunal ruled he was a victim of racial discrimination and wrongful dismissal by his manager.
Details of the Harassment and Discrimination
The victim, Madhesh Ravichandran, who hails from Tamil Nadu, brought the case against his former employer, Nexus Foods Limited, which operates the KFC outlet in West Wickham, south-east London. Ravichandran started his job in January 2023 after an interview with his soon-to-be manager, identified as Kajan, a Sri Lankan Tamil man.
Ravichandran told the tribunal that his boss subjected him to severe racial abuse. He claimed Kajan called him a "slave" and made derogatory statements such as "Indians are fraudsters." The situation deteriorated over several months, with the manager allegedly refusing his holiday requests to prioritize Sri Lankan Tamil colleagues.
The Breaking Point and Wrongful Dismissal
The conflict reached a climax in July 2023 when Kajan tried to force Ravichandran to work excessive hours during a shift. This led Ravichandran to submit his resignation notice. However, Judge Paul Abbott, in the order published this week, found that the manager's subsequent actions constituted a summary dismissal.
During the notice period, Kajan became "racially abusive and threatening" in phone conversations. The tribunal concluded that this abuse had "the purpose and the effect of violating the claimant’s dignity." Since the company did not provide the legally required one-week notice, the dismissal was ruled wrongful.
Tribunal's Verdict and Compensation Awarded
Following hearings held in September, the employment tribunal firmly supported Ravichandran's claims. The judgment stated, "The complaints of direct race discrimination are well-founded and succeed." It found that Ravichandran was subjected to less favourable treatment specifically because he was Indian.
The tribunal ordered Nexus Foods Limited to pay a total compensation of approximately £66,800. This sum includes a primary award of £62,690 for the discrimination and loss of employment, plus additional amounts for accrued but unused holiday pay and other statutory entitlements.
This case highlights the serious legal consequences of workplace harassment and racial discrimination, even in international settings, and underscores the protection offered by UK employment law.
