Mr K Gelder v Whitbread plc HELD by CVP at Leeds — 2023

Mr K Gelder was employed by Whitbread Plc as a night reception team member at the Premier Inn, Barnsley Central. The tribunal found that on 28 June 2022 a guest complained that someone had entered room 317 at about 1am, and that CCTV and the employer’s records showed the claimant’s key had been used on the relevant night twice, at 00:03 and 00:48. The claimant’s account was that he had been doing a walk round, had tested the lock, and later had been listening for noise, but he had not recorded either incident on the corridor check log. After investigation, suspension, a disciplinary hearing, further investigation, and an appeal, the respondent dismissed him summarily for gross misconduct on 16 July 2022.