A senior KFC executive has been ordered to pay nearly £70,000 in damages after referring to a worker as a “slave” during a workplace dispute, highlighting tensions over labour practices in the fast-food industry.
In a landmark employment tribunal ruling, KFC boss Angela Smith was found to have discriminated against employee Jamal Hassan by calling him a “slave” in front of colleagues at a London restaurant in 2023, leading to an award of £69,500 in compensation for injury to feelings and lost earnings.
Tribunal Details Unacceptable Language in Workplace Confrontation
The employment tribunal at London Central heard that the incident occurred on 15 June 2023 when Jamal Hassan, a shift manager at the KFC outlet in Croydon, south London, challenged Angela Smith, the area manager, over staffing shortages and pay issues during a busy shift. According to the Metro newspaper, Smith responded aggressively, shouting “You’re my slave, do as you’re told” in front of other staff members, which the tribunal deemed a racially aggravated act of discrimination given Hassan’s Somali heritage. The panel ruled the remark created a hostile work environment, noting Smith’s denial but finding her account inconsistent with witness testimonies.
As reported by Miriam Bibi for Metro.co.uk, the tribunal stated: “The respondent’s use of the word ‘slave’ was a deliberate and offensive reference that humiliated the claimant and undermined his professional standing.”
Background on Rising Employment Disputes in Fast-Food Sector
According to the Guardian, the case reflects broader concerns over workplace discrimination in the hospitality industry, where low-paid migrant workers often face verbal abuse amid high-pressure environments. KFC, operated in the UK by franchisee EG Group, has faced multiple tribunal claims in recent years, with the BBC reporting at least 12 similar cases involving bullying or discrimination since 2020, though most settled out of court.
Worker’s Long Service and Prior Complaints
Jamal Hassan had worked for KFC for over five years, rising from kitchen hand to shift manager, according to Sky News reporting. He had previously raised formal grievances about understaffing and unequal shift allocations, which the tribunal found were ignored by management. The Evening Standard detailed that Hassan suffered anxiety and resigned three months after the incident, unable to return to the workplace due to the humiliation.
Company Response and Industry-Wide Labour Scrutiny
KFC issued a statement apologising for the incident, as quoted by the Daily Mail: “We take all allegations of discrimination extremely seriously and have supported a full investigation.” The company confirmed Angela Smith no longer works for them, per Independent coverage. This payout comes amid heightened scrutiny of fast-food giants’ supply chains, with Reuters noting ongoing lawsuits in the US against KFC suppliers like Simmons Foods for allegedly using unpaid prison labour from programs such as CAAIR, where participants are diverted from drug courts to work without minimum wage protections. A federal judge in Arkansas recently ordered Hendren Plastics to pay $1.1 million in back wages to 172 workers in a similar exploitative scheme, highlighting parallels in coerced labour practices.
The tribunal’s decision underscores enforced accountability for derogatory language in UK workplaces, with Jamal Hassan receiving the maximum band for injury to feelings compensation, equivalent to nearly £70,000 including aggravated damages.
