A shop assistant has won her unfair dismissal case against an Essex pet shop.

Leigh Best was sacked from her job at Embark on Raw in Whitesbridge Farm Industrial Estate near Billericay, in May of 2020.

An employment tribunal was told that Leah Best had raised fears about covid-19 safety protocols.

She was employed from 29 January 2019 until her dismissal on 11 May 2020 on a ‘zero hours’ contract although she regularly worked ’full time’ hours every week. She claimed she was dismissed for reasons relating to her conduct briefly summarised as rude and confrontational communication with co-workers and managers. 

However, the tribunal decided that she was dismissed for the principal reason that she made protected disclosures, sometimes called whistleblowing, during the early part of the covid-19 pandemic of March-May 2020. 

A future hearing will take place on January 31 at which compensation to Mrs Best will be announced.

A full account of the case can be found by clicking here.