Chef fired for serving food that had fallen on floor wins £28,400 compensation

Chef fired for serving food that had fallen on floor wins £28,400 compensationA Thai restaurant chef who worked for over 10 years was unfairly dismissed after allegations of serving floor-dropped food, with the Workplace Relations Commission awarding him €32,550 (£28,429)NewsSean McCarthaigh18:09, 07 Apr 2026View 2 ImagesThe Workplace Relations Commission building in Lansdowne House, Dublin.A Thai restaurant has been ordered to pay €32,550 (£28,429) in compensation to a chef who was dismissed after serving food that had fallen on the floor to a customer.‌The Workplace Relations Commission ruled that Ecoco Asian Kitchen, which runs outlets in Cornelscourt, Dublin and Bray, Co Wicklow, had wrongfully sacked chef Tommy Chee King Eng.‌The WRC heard that the chef had been employed by the company for more than 10 years before being let go on 25 June 2025, following allegations of food safety and hygiene violations.‌Mr Eng claimed he was dismissed for picking up food from the floor, which he subsequently cooked and served to a customer, as well as for using an incorrect technique when preparing roast duck.View 2 ImagesThe Workplace Relations Commission building in Lansdowne House, Dublin.He told the WRC that he walked out of a disciplinary hearing when he was confronted with fresh allegations based on CCTV footage, reports the Irish Mirror.‌These related to claims that he was touching his head while cooking, failing to wear headwear, and using a mobile phone while preparing food.The chef maintained he felt singled out, as other members of staff had engaged in similar behaviour without facing any disciplinary proceedings.Mr Eng stated that no private space had been made available during the disciplinary process, with meetings taking place in a customer seating area and a cramped storeroom.‌A spokesperson for Ecoco Asian Kitchen said serious hygiene and food safety concerns had emerged in June 2025, shortly after the company had taken over running the restaurant. The firm st...