A woman was yesterday awarded Lm950 (€2,212.90) in compensation after the Industrial Tribunal found she had been wrongfully dismissed.

The tribunal ruled that the woman was fired without previously being given any written warnings and without being given the opportunity to defend herself.

Sarah Jane Gialanzè told the tribunal she started working at Estetika Ltd in April 2003. She complained that her direct superior, senior beauty therapist Audrey Grima, usually bullied her by saying she was lazy and that she was not carrying out her duties as expected. She was not given any warnings before the termination of her employment.

Testifying before the tribunal, Ms Grima denied bullying Ms Gialanzè, explaining that she was just carrying out her job as a manager and reprimanded the employee when necessary. One day a client complained that she had contracted a fungal infection in her nails after a session with Ms Gialanzè. This was the "cherry on the cake". Ms Gialanzè did not accept responsibility for what had happened to the client and also did not refer the matter to the company's doctor, the tribunal heard.

The tribunal, presided over by lawyer Leslie Cuschieri, concluded that Ms Gialanzè was a dedicated worker and was ready to do any work that came her way. It also considered that, in an effort to get more work done, the company would put pressure on Ms Gialanzè, bringing about a chaotic environment.

It was clear that the company was understaffed and that it gave importance to profits to the detriment of its employees, the tribunal said.

The tribunal continued that the company did not listen to Ms Gialanzè's version of events and instead chose to listen to Ms Grima's story only.

The tribunal concluded that the correct way of dealing with the situation was to issue a severe warning and not to fire Ms Gialanzè. It, therefore, ordered Estetika Ltd to pay its former employee Lm950 (€2,212.90) in compensation.

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