A Thai eatery has been instructed to compensate a chef with €32,550 (£28,429) for his termination following an incident where he served food that had touched the floor to a patron.
The Workplace Relations Commission determined that Ecoco Asian Kitchen, the operator of branches in Cornelscourt, Dublin, and Bray, Co Wicklow, unjustly fired chef Tommy Chee King Eng. Eng had been working with the company for over a decade before his dismissal on June 25, 2025, over allegations of breaching food safety and hygiene protocols.
Eng claimed he was let go for serving food that had fallen on the floor and for improper preparation techniques, including an incident involving roast duck. He left a disciplinary meeting upon facing new accusations based on CCTV footage.
Allegations against Eng included touching his head while cooking, not wearing appropriate headwear, and using a mobile device while handling food. Eng argued that other staff members engaged in similar behavior without repercussions.
Ecoco Asian Kitchen stated that significant hygiene and safety concerns arose shortly after taking over the restaurant in June 2025. They suspended Eng for potential gross misconduct and eventually terminated him based on his responses. The company maintained that their actions followed fair procedures suitable for a small business.
However, WRC adjudicator Breiffni O’Neill criticized the company’s reactive approach, saying it did not align with reasonable expectations for managing an experienced employee. O’Neill highlighted that the company failed to communicate revised standards and offer training to adapt to changes.
The WRC found the chef’s actions to be minor lapses with no customer complaints or regulatory issues. O’Neill emphasized that corrective actions like warnings and retraining should have been considered instead of immediate termination.
O’Neill raised concerns about the speed of the disciplinary process and the lack of a suitable meeting space. He also noted discrepancies in the company’s instructions to Eng regarding colleague representation.
Ultimately, the WRC deemed Eng’s dismissal unjust and ordered the company to pay him €30,150 for unfair termination and an additional €2,400 for failing to provide proper notice.
