Employment Tribunal Rules in Favor of Worker Accused of Impersonating Michael Jackson
An employment tribunal in Manchester has ruled that a warehouse worker, Lucasz Zawadzki, was unfairly dismissed after being accused of impersonating Michael Jackson by making high-pitched noises at a colleague. The colleague, who is black, also accused Zawadzki of making monkey noises and being racist at the Co-Operative warehouse where they both worked. Zawadzki admitted to making embarrassing noises but denied that they were racist.
The Co-operative Group was ordered to pay Zawadzki over £10,000 in compensation by Employment Judge Carol Porter, who found that he was unfairly dismissed. The incident occurred in December 2023 when the colleague, referred to as SM, reported being a victim of bullying to his manager. Zawadzki was informed of the complaint against him, which alleged that he made a high-pitched "hee hee" noise resembling Michael Jackson.
Zawadzki admitted to making inappropriate noises with a colleague but denied impersonating Michael Jackson or making monkey noises. He stated that he did not intend to bully or hurt anyone. Despite being suspended for alleged misconduct, the tribunal found that there was no evidence that Zawadzki's conduct caused distress to the colleague who made the complaint.
Judge Porter concluded that Zawadzki's behavior was inappropriate and juvenile but did not find it offensive or distressing to the colleague. The tribunal ruled in favor of Zawadzki, determining that he was unfairly dismissed from his job at the Co-Operative warehouse.