New Year resolutions: get the law on your side

A McDonald’s worker who was sacked for serving an "over generous" topping of chocolate on a dessert has accepted a four-figure out-of-court settlement in compensation.

Sarah Finch, who is 19, was dismissed for "gross misconduct" when she served the McFlurry ice cream to a co-worker. Her colleague paid for the McFlurry but asked Ms Finch to make it "a good one". Ms Finch accepted that she gave a generous portion but said there was no standard measure. She said: "They are always imprecise and will vary among customers."

Ms Finch took legal advice and brought a claim of unfair dismissal against the franchise company Lonetree, which runs the McDonald’s restaurant in Carmarthen in west Wales.

The company denied liability but agreed to an out-of-court settlement in which Ms Finch will receive compensation, reported to be in the region of £3,000. She will also receive a good reference from McDonald’s.

Please contact us for more information about the issues raised in this article or any aspect of unfair dismissal claims and employment law.