“Why did you f**k off like a mouse?”
A chef has lost his job after he taunted a co-worker into an arm wrestle, which went horribly wrong - the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) has heard.
The chef in question sustained a broken right arm, while the co-worker he challenged also sustained arm injury in the affair.
The saga all began the day before the arm wrestle - which took place on May 12, 2017 - when the chef sent several text messages to his co-worker taunting him into having the arm wrestle.
Evidence presented to the WRC showed the texts contained pictures of a flexed arm and derogatory language such as: “Why did you f**k off like a mouse?” While also implying “tomorrow” would be the day of the fated arm-wrestle.
Bring it on
Upon the Chef's Co-worker taking up the challenge, a time for the contest was set, 2pm on May 12. It was witnessed by two colleagues and was recorded by another employee.
However, in what is perhaps a dose of karma, the chef sustained a broken arm in the heated arm wrestle.
Despite this, he continued to send more derogatory messages to his co-worker after the event, stating “he had a stronger left arm,” and “a stronger left arm and will show you next time.”
As a result of the broken arm sustained in the battle, the chef went on sick leave underwent surgery on May 31.
He was then sacked gross misconduct on June 28,2017.
Moral of the story...
The chef sued for unfair dismissal sighting his employer 'failed to consider that he had been invited to engage in the arm wrestle by the co-worker.'
And that 'the employer had failed to consider the existing culture in that particular workplace where this was a feature.'
He also claimed the employer failed to provide adequate reasons for his dismissal and he was not afforded fair procedures.
However, the WRC did not accept his claims, rendering his suit unsuccessful.
Moral of the story? Bravado doesn't belong in the workplace!
