Member sacked from Golden Circle for being obese
A Golden Circle worker in Northgate has been sacked for being morbidly obese, according to the company.
An NUW member at Golden Circle's Northgate site has filed for unfair dismissal today after saying he was stood down for being morbidly obese. A loyal employee with Golden Circle for 14 years, Lance Pedersen was dismissed by the company after they altered Mr Pedersen's work duties which required him to perform tasks for which the company doctor deemed him unfit.
Mr Pedersen was required to relieve other workers, during their lunchtime break, in the area of beverage, when his position was in the sugar plant. He believed he was capable of performing the other duties which the company had asked of him, believing the work would aid in strengthening his knees, whereby he had had previous operations.
When the company's doctor assessed Mr Pedersen, the doctor deemed him unfit to perform the extra duties and consequently he was dismissed by Golden Circle.
Mr Pedersen expressed his shock at being sacked, when the company had had no issue with his performance previously, to his knowledge.
"I didn't expect this to happen. The company gave me no written warnings and there were no complaints about me. It makes it hard for me to be employed now," Mr Pedersen remarked.
Organiser for the site, Duncan Pegg agreed with Mr Pedersen, explaining there was insufficient evidence to terminate him.
"Over the time that Lance has worked at Golden Circle there was never a question that he was incapable of doing his job."
Mr Pedersen provided an assessment to the company from his own doctor who stated that Mr Pedersen was fit to carry out the role he had been employed to do.
Click for the Courier Mail article on Lance.
