A long-serving Sainsbury’s employee has been dismissed from his job for taking bags for life without payment at the end of a night shift, despite two decades of service at the supermarket.
Niamke Doffou, who had worked at Romford Sainsbury’s Superstore in East London since June 2003, was fired in October 2022 after selecting the ‘zero bags used’ option on the self-service checkout and taking reusable bags without paying, an employment tribunal heard.
Doffou, a native French speaker who has lived and worked in the UK for nearly 20 years, was confronted by management after CCTV footage showed the incident. Despite his claim of being “tired” and “unaware” of his actions, the tribunal upheld his dismissal for gross misconduct.
The tribunal heard that Doffou had done personal shopping worth £30 after working a night shift during the August bank holiday in 2022. CCTV footage revealed that he did not pay for the reusable bags he used to pack his shopping, despite selecting the ‘zero bags used’ option on the self-service checkout.
While Doffou admitted to the act, he claimed it was not deliberate and attributed it to exhaustion. However, the tribunal concluded that he had been dishonest and deliberately avoided paying for the bags.
Despite Doffou’s appeal, the tribunal judge ruled that the decision to dismiss him fell within a reasonable band of responses, considering the evidence of theft.
In her statement, Employment Judge Eleena Misra K.C emphasised that the investigation carried out by Sainsbury’s was reasonable and proportionate, and Doffou was given a fair opportunity to respond to the allegations.
The dismissal of Doffou, who had dedicated 20 years to the company, underscores Sainsbury’s zero-tolerance policy towards theft, even for low-value items like bags for life, which are sold to customers for either 30p or 65p.
The case highlights the importance of maintaining trust and integrity in the workplace, regardless of tenure, and serves as a reminder of the consequences of dishonest behaviour, even in seemingly trivial matters.
