Hearing Advice Helpline Industry News - Flea bites result in compensation for waitress

A worker has received a compensation award following a decision that she was unfairly dismissed from her employment - she had complained that the flea bites she sustained at work contravened health and safety rules. Maria Moon, who worked as a waitress at the Hafan y Môr holiday centre in Wales, was bitten by fleas in the chalet provided for her to live in at work. She raised concerns about this with her employers who then sacked her.

According to evidence given at the tribunal, Moon shared the chalet with another employee and it had a broken shower, dampness and a dirty mattress. A doctor told Moon that the itchy bites she had were most likely from rat fleas. Her employers fumigated the chalet and directed Moon to return there after 48 hours. When moon complained that health and safety rules were not being met she was told that the café where she worked was over-staffed and her services were no longer required. The tribunal held that the reason for her dismissal was actually because of the complaint she had made and it was held that she had been unfairly dismissed.