By Fatma Younis
A cook at a renowned fish and chip shop on Scotland's North Coast 500 route has been awarded £34,312.89 in compensation after an employment tribunal found she was constructively dismissed following a series of communication failures and food safety concerns.
Alcohol licence dispute
Elizabeth Booth, who had worked for many years at La Mirage Restaurant in Helmsdale, Sutherland, first clashed with owner Haydar Baran when the premises' alcohol licence was transferred into his name without consultation. The tribunal found this undermined her position and standing among colleagues.
Scampi contamination incident
In 2024, Booth discovered frozen flies in a box of scampi and reported it to Baran. Although the contaminated product was removed and the supplier notified, the incident was not documented or communicated to staff. The tribunal ruled that Booth reasonably feared the contaminated scampi might be cooked and sold, and the replacement product was not properly accounted for.
Mayonnaise miscommunication
A further incident in 2025 involved a damaged mayonnaise delivery. Booth was told the product had been binned, but it was later decanted into other containers and used in food preparation. The tribunal found she had been given inaccurate information about its disposal.
Mushy peas confusion and resignation
On May 24, 2025, Booth walked out after a miscommunication about a new policy to serve regular customers first. She was not informed of the change and became confused when asked to prepare mushy peas for an order that did not include them. The tribunal found this diminished her authority.
Tribunal ruling
Employment Judge Robert Phillips ruled that the cumulative effect of these incidents constituted a fundamental breach of the employment relationship. Booth's claims of constructive and unfair dismissal, as well as failure to provide written particulars of employment, were upheld. The compensation mainly covers loss of earnings.
