Rice cooker leads to £260k payout to sacked university cleaner

A part-time cleaner has won more than £260,000 after an employment tribunal found she was unfairly dismissed by a university following a dispute over a rice cooker.

Peak Ong, 72, worked at Aberystwyth University, Ceredigion, but was dismissed in 2021 after she was accused of breaching a confidential agreement from a mediation hearing, following a long history of disputes with her manager Catherine Green.

The hearing took place after Ong alleged she was accused by Green of buying a student a rice cooker, which are banned in the university's residential buildings.

The employment tribunal found there was no warning given to Ong that a breach could lead to disciplinary action.

The tribunal also found Ong was "victimised" by the university after she lost a job offer at Ceredigion council following the dismissal, and failed to get other jobs, because the university confirmed there was an "ongoing dispute" in a reference.

Employment Judge Dilbaag Bansal said: "We find this was a clear reference to the tribunal claim issued by Ong. We find the university's conduct was irresponsible and retaliatory."

Ong was awarded £264,442.09 by the university in compensation.

According to the tribunal report, the university said Ong was dismissed for failing to improve her conduct following mediation, however the tribunal found flaws in the disciplinary process.

A university spokesperson said some procedures were "not applied correctly in this instance".

They added: "We are sorry for the impact this had on those involved."

Ong was employed by the university between November 2014 and May 2022, and was 69 when she was dismissed.

She came to the UK from Malaysia in 1989 to study, and represented herself at the tribunal.

The tribunal heard Ong had disagreements with Green at work and at one point made multiple complaints about her, claiming she was "bullied and harassed, and that she wanted her out because of her age".

The claim regarding her age was dismissed by the tribunal.

In June 2019, Ong got a new line manager and in June 2020, she emailed the-then vice chancellor complaining about Green's "ruthless and bullying behaviour".

In September 2020 Green became Ong's line manager again, and later made a formal complaint against Ong in February 2021, claiming her behaviour was "unmanageable and was having an adverse effect on her ability to do her job and on her team".

Her complaints were upheld after an investigation which recommended for their working relationship to be reviewed.

Later that year, the tribunal heard, Green spoke to Ong about a student who had a rice cooker confiscated by the university.

The tribunal heard: "On 12 March 2021, Green held a meeting with Ong to discuss a number of issues with Ong.

"According to Green in her witness statement, 'there seems to be a discussion around a rice cooker, which is banned item in halls of residence. If a rice cooker is found, the usual process is for team leaders, to be contacted and for them to remove the item to safe storage'."

Ong alleged Green accused her of "supplying students with rice cookers". Ong had denied buying the appliance for the student.

Green said she did not accuse Ong as she had alleged, but she "may have reminded Ong a rice cooker was a banned item".

The tribunal found Green did not accuse Ong of misconduct over the incident.

But in October 2021, Ong and Green attended a mediation hearing in which they made agreements to improve their working relationship.

Green complained a month later Ong's behaviour was "putting everyone under stress, and having an impact on their wellbeing", and Ong was suspended.

She was given a final written warning and told she could try to find a different role at the university within seven weeks, but she failed to secure a new job despite submitting numerous applications. She was then dismissed.

In September 2022, Ong was given a conditional job offer at Ceredigion Council as a night care assistant, and needed to provide a reference.

She asked the university for one, and a HR worker provided a "bad reference" which led to the withdrawal.

According to the tribunal report, Ong was able to find temporary short-term work after the dismissal but the effect of the withdrawal of the job offer was "devastating" for her.

The judge said in the report: "The impact and effect of losing her job with the respondent in May 2022 affected her significantly in that her mental health and depression increased.

"She explained she felt fearful, hopeless and empty and had sleep issues.

"This was further exacerbated when the council withdrew the job offer.

"This decision caused her great upset, anger, distress, anxiety and sleepless nights. She also felt humiliated."

The judge added Ong's dismissal was "substantively and procedurally unfair".

Multiple other claims made by Ong against the university were dismissed.

A spokesperson for the university said: "While the tribunal found in the university's favour for the majority of the claims brought in this complex case, we recognise that some procedures were not applied correctly in this instance.

"We are sorry for the impact this had on those involved.

"We respect the tribunal's decision and are reviewing our processes to ensure this cannot happen again.

"The university remains committed to supporting our staff and fostering a professional and inclusive working environment."