A former night porter at the college of Lady Margaret Hall at Oxford University appeared before an employment tribunal this week claiming he was unfairly dismissed because he 'knew too much' about student indiscretions at the college.
In a story evoking Tom Sharpe's novel Porterhouse Blue, Terence Greenwood, 65, said he enjoyed a close relationship with students at Lady Margaret Hall and made many friends during his time working at the college.
The popular porter fell out with his supervisor Lawrence Le Carre, however, for covering up student misdemeanours. In one incident, for example, a student got so drunk one night he soiled his own bed. Mr Greenwood refused to reveal the identity of the student to Mr Le Carre, which led to an argument in which he was told he was wrong to keep quiet.
Mr Greenwood acknowledged that he believed Mr Le Carre held a grudge against him, but it still came as a bit of a surprise when he was laid off. His popularity at Lady Margaret Hall was such, though, that students raised a petition to persuade the college to keep him on.
Before his appeal against unfair dismissal could be heard, however, the college placed an advert in a local newspaper stating its intent to find a replacement.
A judgement following the tribunal hearing in Reading, Berkshire, is expected later this year.
Links:
- Oxford University porter sacked because he 'knew too much' (Metro)
- Unfair dismissal law (Findlaw.co.uk)
- Unfair dismissal law news (The Solicitor)
- Employment law Q&A (Community)
- Find an employment solicitor (Contact Law)
