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M&S sacks mother of four in row over discount card
Dick Murray, Transport Editor15 Dec 2008
MARKS & Spencer was today accused of "corporate bullying" after sacking a mother of four in a row over alleged misuse of her discount card.
The GMB union said Nery Clark had worked at the Kensington High Street branch for 11 years and when she told her husband she had been fired he had a heart attack and died. A spokeswoman for M&S claimed there had been "deliberate abuse" of a staff discount card.
The GMB said Ms Clark had been off sick when rules on discount cards changed. When she tried to buy groceries using her card she was refused and then dismissed without notice.
The union spokesman said: "M&S presented no evidence of previous incidents and discounted her evidence that she did not understand there had been a change in the rules. The discount would have been less than £5. When she told her husband she had been fired, he was so distressed he had a heart attack and died. M&S upheld the dismissal on appeal."
An M&S spokeswoman said: "After a thorough investigation we reluctantly had to dismiss an employee for deliberate abuse of her staff discount card. She had been told not to use it in that way."
The GMB sought to link the sacking with that of Tony Goode, who had leaked details of an M&S plan to cut back on redundancy payments. The result of an appeal is awaited. The union has lodged a claim for unfair dismissal.
Maria Ludkin, GMB legal officer, added: "The case of Nery Clark shows how far M&S has moved from being a caring employer. The GMB is investigating ways to establish the extent of corporate bullying of M&S employees."
Reader views (13)
I too have had the great misfortune of dealing with M&S, and this isn't your usual set of bullies & bad management - this is M&S bad management & bullying! Any ex-employee will confirm that they rule by fear, they don't like the Unions, they don't like being told they are wrong, and they do not like putting things right. I know this because as a shop steward - not for M&S -i have been asked to go into M&S to provide clarification, and as i said, this isn't your usual bullying and ruling by fear, this is M&S bullying & ruling by fear & i would urge all M&S staff to join a union regardless - by doing this we will be able to help more people and also make the ones who absorb all the good company trash sit up and listen. If people knew what really went on in M&S, they would be out of business in no time.
- Karma, Halifax, 17/12/2008 19:52
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There are many "bullying" stories to be told about the management at M & S. Anecdotal these stories might be but they are bullies. Based on what evidence I hear some say? Well enough that I've seen, those who take part in the "bullying" often end up on the receiving end and become the "victim". There's an ex-employee who was "dismissed" for eating a grape! This is no urban myth either.
The company initials state it all - M and S.
- Harriet, North West, 15/12/2008 21:41
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So lets see if I have this correct: since she has kids, different rules of law and conduct apply?
Wonderful..
- Trunk, US, 15/12/2008 20:06
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I suspect there are few facts in this report. In any case, the death by heart failure incident has nothing to do with the accused person's supposed crime and punishment. Reminds me of the rather spurious claim by Ken Dodd that he was 'trying' to father a child as an excuse for omitting to do his tax returns properly.
- Nora, London, 15/12/2008 16:16
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Thats a bit harsh isnt it Nige? I dont see what she could of done to be in the wrong here. A discount card allows for a discount - as far as I can see she didnt steal or kill anyone? And as for Frank's cynical response - a member of my family had a heart attack and died too when receiving very bad news - it does happen you know.
- Natty, London, 15/12/2008 14:36
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What is this country coming to when people can be so blase over a woman of 11 years good standing in a firm being dismissed for something that could easily have been a genuine mistake. Why is it so bizarre that someone would be ill after hearing their wife had been so badly treated. Have a care, it could be your wife next.
- Eva, London, 15/12/2008 13:52
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So she got sacked - what's the problem?
- Frederick, London UK, 15/12/2008 12:44
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Nobody 'reluctantly' dismisses an employee: if you've caught them out stealing you're immensely relieved to get rid of them. M&S's defence sounds a bit crack-pot to me: if the discount card is set up right, surely it won't give a discount if one isn't available? Hence the discount was refused - they're not even claiming she got away with it. Surely under current legislation she should have received 2 written warnings before she could be dismissed?
- Roz, Chamonix, France, 15/12/2008 12:06
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I really do not see why having four chidren has any relevance to this story apart from a cheap attempt to garner sympathy for somebody who broke the rules of honesty laid down by the company and got caught.
- Casper Slides, France at the moment, 15/12/2008 11:56
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Abusing your employers and then trying to claim they (indirectly) killed your husband. Typical Blairite Britain; its everyone's fault but her own.
- Nige, London, 15/12/2008 11:35
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The husband had a heart attack and died because she got fired? Oh please!
- Frank, Home Counties, England, 15/12/2008 11:30
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I sincerely hope that Stuart Rose has never put through an expense claim for a taxi ride that he took for personal use or for a tip he gave to a hotel porter. Or is it one rule for the Board and another for (other) employees?
- Bloke, London, 15/12/2008 11:09
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This is appalling. I will boycott Marks and Spencer until this lady receives justice.
- John, London, 15/12/2008 10:21
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