Industry charity fights unfair dismissal claim

The chief executive of the hospitality industry's major charity, Hospitality Action, was last week accused of bullying the organisation's accountant out of his job.

But Alison Rogers denied allegations that she had forced Conal Morgan to quit.

Rogers told the industrial tribunal in Croydon that she had had no choice but to fire Morgan, who had held the post for eight years, because his work was not up to scratch.

She added that, as part of a reorganisation, many of his duties could be undertaken by a junior member of staff.

But Morgan, who is claiming unfair dismissal, says Rogers bullied him for a year before allegedly saying to him: "There are two routes, the disciplinary route or redundancy."

Rogers said she had created a new post, head of finance and development, which was different from Morgan's job.

In May 1999 the trustees had decided to sell off the housing provided to needy members of the industry and concentrate on giving financial help.

As a result, she said, Morgan's role, which consisted largely of keeping the accounts for the housing, was no longer required.

Rogers, who joined the charity, formerly called the Hotel and Catering Benevolent Association, in June 1998, said she had lacked confidence in the standard of Morgan's work, but had never bullied him.

Rupert Choat, for Morgan, asked Rogers if Morgan might have seen her words as a "veiled threat", and if she had used the threat of disciplinary action to make him accept redundancy.

Rogers said she had made it clear it wasn't a threat, and denied having disliked Morgan.

The case was adjourned until late June.

by Peter Markham