Papa Johns worker was fired after he refused to be paid cash-in-hand because he wanted to pay the right amount of tax

By ELIZABETH HAIGH, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 11:34, 1 August 2026 | Updated: 11:34, 1 August 2026 A worker at a Papa Johns franchise store was fired because he refused to be paid cash-in-hand as he wanted to pay tax, a tribunal has ruled. Ashwani Kumar, who was a manager at the branch of the chain in Harlow, Essex, was dismissed for requesting itemised payslips with correct tax and National Insurance deductions after discovering the ones he was being given were fake. After Mr Kumar was dismissed by his boss police had to be called as he refused to leave the premises. He has now successfully sued his former employers, EEM London and EEM Holdings, as well as the franchise owner Abdul Sattar Askar for automatic unfair dismissal, unlawful deduction of wages and failure to pay holiday pay. Mr Kumar joined the Papa Johns in February 2023 and was asked as he started to work cash-in-hand. But he refused because he wanted to ensure the correct amount of tax and National Insurance money was being paid to authorities. Mr Kumar was handed payslips but discovered these were fake and no tax was actually being paid after contacting HMRC.  There is no law preventing workers being paid in cash in the UK, but it is illegal tax evasion if income is not declared to HMRC. A Papa Johns employee was fired because he refused to be paid cash-in-hand as he wanted to pay tax, a tribunal has ruled (Pictured: Stock image of a Papa Johns in London) After returning from a holiday in January 2025, Mr Kumar was dismissed and told his current Papa Johns store had no more work from him. He was informed he could move to another Papa Johns store if he agreed to be paid cash-in-hand. Police were then called to remove Mr Kumar from the shop after he refused to agree. During his employment at the branch, the tribunal was told Mr Kumar was unable to take paid holiday and didn't receive any holiday pay during the entirety of his employment. He also did not receive his wages for December 2024. Judge Julia Jones ruled Mr Kumar was dismissed because of 'his insistence on being given itemised payslips, having his tax and National Insurance deducted and shown on his payslip and being paid for holidays and having the right to take holidays'. His employers were not present at the hearing and did not defend themselves. A future hearing will determine the remediation Mr Kumar is entitled to.  Papa Johns has been contacted for comment.