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Citibank wins employment tribunal against banker claiming expenses for his partner’s sandwich

Citibank has won an employment tribunal after dismissing a worker who claimed subsistence expenses for himself and his partner, and denied it.

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Published 16 October 2023

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  • Financial services

Citibank has won an employment tribunal after dismissing a worker who claimed subsistence expenses for himself and his partner, and denied it.

Szabolcs Fekete had accused the bank of unfair dismissal after he was fired in 2022 for gross misconduct. He initially claimed that he had personally consumed two sandwiches, two coffees and two pasta dishes during a solo business trip to Amsterdam. He later admitted that his partner had shared the items.

Head of Employment, Tania Goodman, comments on the matter:

“Whilst the amounts involved in this banker’s expense claims were modest, the fact is he claimed some of his expenses dishonestly and when asked about it by his employer, he lied, thereby compounding his deceit. This constitutes theft and gross misconduct for which the sanction is usually dismissal. Furthermore, the implied duty of trust and confidence underpins all employment relationships and once it’s gone, it’s gone. No doubt a bank must ensure that its staff are honest for many reasons, not least reputation management. Perhaps the employee would have been given a second chance in another industry and he clearly miscalculated the gravity of the situation” 

The findings of the employment tribunal can be found here.

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Shorter Reads

Citibank wins employment tribunal against banker claiming expenses for his partner’s sandwich

Citibank has won an employment tribunal after dismissing a worker who claimed subsistence expenses for himself and his partner, and denied it.

Published 16 October 2023

Associated sectors / services

  • Employment law for employees
  • Employment law for employers
  • Financial services

Authors

Citibank has won an employment tribunal after dismissing a worker who claimed subsistence expenses for himself and his partner, and denied it.

Szabolcs Fekete had accused the bank of unfair dismissal after he was fired in 2022 for gross misconduct. He initially claimed that he had personally consumed two sandwiches, two coffees and two pasta dishes during a solo business trip to Amsterdam. He later admitted that his partner had shared the items.

Head of Employment, Tania Goodman, comments on the matter:

“Whilst the amounts involved in this banker’s expense claims were modest, the fact is he claimed some of his expenses dishonestly and when asked about it by his employer, he lied, thereby compounding his deceit. This constitutes theft and gross misconduct for which the sanction is usually dismissal. Furthermore, the implied duty of trust and confidence underpins all employment relationships and once it’s gone, it’s gone. No doubt a bank must ensure that its staff are honest for many reasons, not least reputation management. Perhaps the employee would have been given a second chance in another industry and he clearly miscalculated the gravity of the situation” 

The findings of the employment tribunal can be found here.

Associated sectors / services

  • Employment law for employees
  • Employment law for employers
  • Financial services

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