‘I was sacked from chippy for giving a homeless man a free sausage’
ASOUTHPORT woman says she was sacked from her job at a chip shop for giving a homeless man a free sausage with his food.
Catherine Howard, 49, was employed as a kitchen assistant at The Embassy takeaway on Nevill Street in Southport town centre and alleges that she was dismissed for giving away the sausage.
Catherine said that towards the end of her shift on Sunday, July 5, a homeless man had paid for £4.10 for chips and curry sauce and that she decided to give him one of the leftover sausages with his meal.
But she said that two days later she was called back into work on her day off to be told that she was being sacked for her actions.
Catherine said: “I was called in to work on my day off by management and I saw that they were advertising for a new kitchen assistant and that’s when they told me I was being let go.
“The homeless man paid for his curry and chips but didn’t have enough for a sausage so I gave him one on top of what he paid for. It was at the end of the day and it would have gone in the bin otherwise.
“They told me that I was losing my job over it. That’s it. I haven’t got a job now.”
Catherine, who had worked as a kitchen assistant at The Embassy for almost a year, said that the decision had left her feeling “really upset” and that it was “ridiculous”.
She said that she was a hard worker and had never had any previous disciplinary issues in her time working at The Embassy, and that she had only recently returned from furlough.
Catherine added: “When I heard the news I was upset. I am really upset.
“I just couldn’t believe it. It was the end of the shift and we would have put the left over sausage in the bin otherwise.
“It’s ridiculous. The company could have taken it out of my wages if they wanted to.
“I’ve never had any issues before here. The customers loved me and I was good at customer service.
“I thought I was appreciated in my job.”
The Embassy was approached for comment but did not respond.