An Indian man working at a KFC franchise outlet in south‑east London has won a significant race discrimination and wrongful dismissal case against his former manager, with a UK employment tribunal awarding him nearly £67,000 (around ₹81 lakh) in compensation.
Madhesh Ravichandran, originally from Tamil Nadu, told the tribunal that he was subjected to racially discriminatory behaviour and unfair treatment during his employment at the West Wickham branch of the fast‑food chain.
Complainant was called ‘slave’
Ravichandran began working at the KFC outlet in January 2023. According to tribunal findings, about two months into his job, his holiday request was denied, and he overheard his Sri Lankan-origin manager, Kajan Theiventhiram, making degrading remarks about him, including referring to him as a “slave” and saying “Indians are slaves”. The tribunal found that such comments and actions reflected a racially prejudiced attitude toward Ravichandran, PTI reported.
He was made to work extra hours
The tribunal also heard that Ravichandran was frequently scheduled to work excessive hours, often well above his contractual requirement, which he alleged was driven by discriminatory intent. Judge Paul Abbott, who presided over the case, accepted that the manager’s conduct violated Ravichandran’s dignity and amounted to direct race discrimination and harassment.
Relations between the employee and manager deteriorated over time, culminating in Ravichandran’s resignation in July 2023. The tribunal found that he was wrongfully dismissed without the statutory notice to which he was entitled, as the employer did not provide a valid reason for dismissing him without notice.
Ravichandran was therefore awarded a compensatory sum of £62,690, along with additional amounts covering holiday pay and other employment‑related particulars, bringing the total compensation close to £67,000.
In addition to the financial award, the tribunal directed the employer, Nexus Foods Limited, which operates the KFC outlet, to implement an anti‑discrimination training programme for all employees. This training must include specific guidance for managers on how to handle grievances and prevent discriminatory conduct in the workplace, to ensure compliance with equality laws and protect employees’ rights.
The case has drawn attention to issues of race discrimination and workers’ rights in the UK, highlighting the legal protections available to employees who face unfair treatment on the basis of race.