The case serves as a significant reminder of employees’ rights in the UK and reinforces the legal consequences employers face for discriminatory practices
An Indian national has secured a major legal victory in the United Kingdom after an employment tribunal ruled that he was wrongfully dismissed and racially discriminated against while working at a KFC franchise in south-east London. The ruling has resulted in compensation of nearly £67,000 (around ₹81 lakh), highlighting the UK judiciary’s firm stance against workplace racism.
Madhesh Ravichandran, a native of Tamil Nadu, brought the case against Nexus Foods Limited, which operates the KFC outlet at West Wickham where he was employed. Ravichandran joined the restaurant in January 2023 and reported directly to the restaurant manager, Kajan, a Sri Lankan Tamil. According to tribunal records, Ravichandran endured months of discriminatory treatment that eventually led to his resignation and subsequent dismissal.
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During the hearing, Ravichandran stated that he was subjected to racially offensive remarks, including being referred to as a “slave” and hearing comments such as “Indians are fraudsters”
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He also alleged that his holiday requests were repeatedly denied because of his nationality, while preference was given to colleagues from the manager’s own ethnic background
Employment tribunal judge Paul Abbott upheld Ravichandran’s claims, ruling that the conduct amounted to direct race discrimination. The judgment noted that Ravichandran was treated less favourably specifically because he was Indian and that the racial abuse he experienced had both the purpose and effect of violating his dignity.
Tensions escalated in July 2023 when Ravichandran was pressured to work excessively long hours during a shift. He subsequently handed in his notice. However, the tribunal found that during follow-up communications, the manager became racially abusive and threatening. Ravichandran was later summarily dismissed while serving his notice period and was denied his statutory entitlement to one week’s notice pay.
The tribunal concluded that the employer had no valid grounds to dismiss him without notice, making the termination unlawful. Ravichandran was awarded £62,690 in compensation, along with additional payments for holiday pay and employment-related entitlements, bringing the total award to approximately £66,800.
Beyond financial compensation, the tribunal also directed Nexus Foods Limited to implement a comprehensive workplace training programme on discrimination. This initiative, which must be rolled out within six months, is to include specific guidance for managers on handling grievances and promoting equality at work.
