A Glasgow joiner was sacked over the phone by his "ranting and raving" boss after putting a screw through a pipe at work.
An employment tribunal heard that Ian Robert Aird was dismissed from his job at Marc Allan Builders during a phone call after the incident, which was described as "minor".
He has now been awarded £2,665 in outstanding wages and holiday pay after the hearing ruled in his favour that his sacking was a breach of contract, that he was not paid for accrued holiday leave, and for a deduction in his wages.
Mr Aird began working as a joiner for Marc Allan's company in October 2020 and was fired in August 2021.
Ahead of his dismissal, the hearing heard Mr Aird worked at a number of sites across Glasgow, had an apprentice he supervised and was "trusted by Mr Allan to work autonomously and get on with his work".
He added that he enjoyed his work with Mr Allan.
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On August 6, Mr Aird told Mr Allan over the phone of the incident when he put a screw through a pipe while at work, which led to Mr Allan "ranting and raving".
Mr Aird said he "did not understand" the reaction as "it had happened to him previously, and did not warrant Mr Allan’s reaction".
His boss called him on Sunday (August 8) to tell him not to come back to work, and was fired over the phone.
The hearing statement reads: "On Friday 6 August 2021 the claimant spoke by telephone with Mr Allan. In that conversation the claimant told him that he had put a screw through a pipe while at work. Mr Allan began “ranting and raving” at the claimant. The claimant did not understand why. In his view the incident was minor; it had happened to him previously; and did not warrant Mr Allan’s reaction. The claimant hung up the call.
"At that time, he expected to be at work on Monday 9 August. On Sunday 8 August Mr Allan telephoned the claimant. He told him not to come back to work. The claimant was summarily dismissed by Mr Allan on 8 August in that call. The respondent gave no other notice to end the contract. The respondent did not pay the claimant in lieu of any notice."
In their decision to rule in favour of Mr Aird, the tribunal said his evidence was "both credible and reliable" and that his claims against the company were "well-founded".
Of the money ordered to be paid to Mr Aird, £477.75 was awarded for breach of contract, £1,710.35 for the loss of accrued holidays and £477.75 for the deduction of wages.
