A humanitarian aid charity’s former employee allegedly found cigarettes and “perhaps other substances” at the office during lockdown, a tribunal has heard.
Third Sector reported last week that an employment tribunal in Manchester ruled that the Human Relief Foundation had unfairly dismissed Farah Ahmad after a hearing that concluded in early February.
In August 2020, Ahmad attended the office to collect belongings when she found “ash in mugs”, according to a case summary report shared with Third Sector by Ahmad’s lawyers.
The report said there was evidence of cigarettes and other substances with glass bottles on tables, sheesha, hookah pipe equipment, coal burners and burned coal.
“The office had a strong smell of smoke and there was a sign reading ‘HRF Sheesha Cave’,” said the report.
The report said on 5 September 2020, HRF’s president attempted to enter the office but could not find the key.
This prompted WhatsApp messages from a work group chat including “[We’re] all a bit screwed”, “caught red handed”, “there is no sorting this”.
On 11 September 2020 Ahmad reported her findings in a whistleblowing letter to management.
After reporting her findings, the tribunal found Ahmad was subjected to a “series of detriments” from HRF staff, culminating in her dismissal on 8 October 2020.
The tribunal found Ahmad was placed in an “uncomfortable situation” with her colleagues on 11 September.
“Human resources informed staff that the office would be closed for the purpose of an investigation and requested staff to collect their belongings,” said the report.
Ahmad was “reassured by HR” that colleagues named in her whistleblowing letter would not be at the office at the same time as her.
“Despite this, the colleagues were inside and outside of the premises upon her arrival.”
Behaviour by two colleagues outside the workplace “intimidated” Ahmad and caused her to fear for her safety, the report said.
The tribunal ruled HRF should pay £30,000 to Ahmad for injury to feelings as a result of her being subjected to “detriments found for making a protected disclosure”, plus a further £1,607 for breach of contract.
This breach was in relation to the charity paying 80 per cent of Ahmad’s salary for the period recorded as furlough.