Threatened Dismissal - Options?
Discussion
Another advice request from the PH massive......
Some background
My partner is the head of a school kitchen at a ‘multi-cultural’ (Sikhs, Muslims, Christians and more) girls’ comprehensive in a major town in East Berkshire. She has been working there without issue since June last year. Prior to this, she has run her own (very successful) gastro-pub and for the 6 years prior to getting this latest employ was a supply teacher. She is also a trained counsellor (specialising in abused kids) and is an emergency foster carer for the local council.
At the school where she now works, she has introduced a policy of only preparing food using fresh ingredients and all to be prepared fresh on the day of consumption – Due to the school having Muslim kids all the meat is Halal – The school is on the verge of attaining 5-star status with regard meals which is not achieved by many. Kids taking school dinners have increased during her tenure from c250 per day to c 550 per day, even the staff indulge whereas before their absence was notable. She manages a staff of 8.
An issue has now arisen which will now likely lead to her dismissal (she is the boss and the buck stops there) and I am livid.
On the day the school were serving Christmas Lunch, it appears one of the canteen staff mistakenly gave a ‘pig in blanket’ to a Muslim student (the Christian element at the school insisted Christmas Lunch should not be Halal meat!!). Rather than ask for a new plate of food, the student waited until she was home and told her parents. They escalated to their (two!?!) mosques who contacted the school in the New Year looking for a scapegoat and threatening national press and pickets outside the school until action is taken. Now bear in mind my partner fields questions on a daily basis such as “is this custard Halal?” or “I’m a Muslim can I eat cheese?”. Should it really be her (or the school’s) responsibility to educate Muslim kids in the rules of Dhabihah??
The school governors meet this evening to decide my partner’s fate. The headmistress has on several occasions bowed to this type of external pressure before. My partner will likely lose a job she loves as it combines her 2 passions, cooking and working with kids.
Is there anything we can do??
Some background
My partner is the head of a school kitchen at a ‘multi-cultural’ (Sikhs, Muslims, Christians and more) girls’ comprehensive in a major town in East Berkshire. She has been working there without issue since June last year. Prior to this, she has run her own (very successful) gastro-pub and for the 6 years prior to getting this latest employ was a supply teacher. She is also a trained counsellor (specialising in abused kids) and is an emergency foster carer for the local council.
At the school where she now works, she has introduced a policy of only preparing food using fresh ingredients and all to be prepared fresh on the day of consumption – Due to the school having Muslim kids all the meat is Halal – The school is on the verge of attaining 5-star status with regard meals which is not achieved by many. Kids taking school dinners have increased during her tenure from c250 per day to c 550 per day, even the staff indulge whereas before their absence was notable. She manages a staff of 8.
An issue has now arisen which will now likely lead to her dismissal (she is the boss and the buck stops there) and I am livid.
On the day the school were serving Christmas Lunch, it appears one of the canteen staff mistakenly gave a ‘pig in blanket’ to a Muslim student (the Christian element at the school insisted Christmas Lunch should not be Halal meat!!). Rather than ask for a new plate of food, the student waited until she was home and told her parents. They escalated to their (two!?!) mosques who contacted the school in the New Year looking for a scapegoat and threatening national press and pickets outside the school until action is taken. Now bear in mind my partner fields questions on a daily basis such as “is this custard Halal?” or “I’m a Muslim can I eat cheese?”. Should it really be her (or the school’s) responsibility to educate Muslim kids in the rules of Dhabihah??
The school governors meet this evening to decide my partner’s fate. The headmistress has on several occasions bowed to this type of external pressure before. My partner will likely lose a job she loves as it combines her 2 passions, cooking and working with kids.
Is there anything we can do??
ScoobyDood said:
Another advice request from the PH massive......
Some background
My partner is the head of a school kitchen at a ‘multi-cultural’ (Sikhs, Muslims, Christians and more) girls’ comprehensive in a major town in East Berkshire. She has been working there without issue since June last year. Prior to this, she has run her own (very successful) gastro-pub and for the 6 years prior to getting this latest employ was a supply teacher. She is also a trained counsellor (specialising in abused kids) and is an emergency foster carer for the local council.
At the school where she now works, she has introduced a policy of only preparing food using fresh ingredients and all to be prepared fresh on the day of consumption – Due to the school having Muslim kids all the meat is Halal – The school is on the verge of attaining 5-star status with regard meals which is not achieved by many. Kids taking school dinners have increased during her tenure from c250 per day to c 550 per day, even the staff indulge whereas before their absence was notable. She manages a staff of 8.
An issue has now arisen which will now likely lead to her dismissal (she is the boss and the buck stops there) and I am livid.
On the day the school were serving Christmas Lunch, it appears one of the canteen staff mistakenly gave a ‘pig in blanket’ to a Muslim student (the Christian element at the school insisted Christmas Lunch should not be Halal meat!!). Rather than ask for a new plate of food, the student waited until she was home and told her parents. They escalated to their (two!?!) mosques who contacted the school in the New Year looking for a scapegoat and threatening national press and pickets outside the school until action is taken. Now bear in mind my partner fields questions on a daily basis such as “is this custard Halal?” or “I’m a Muslim can I eat cheese?”. Should it really be her (or the school’s) responsibility to educate Muslim kids in the rules of Dhabihah??
The school governors meet this evening to decide my partner’s fate. The headmistress has on several occasions bowed to this type of external pressure before. My partner will likely lose a job she loves as it combines her 2 passions, cooking and working with kids.
Is there anything we can do??
Collect a massive pay off and find her another job.Some background
My partner is the head of a school kitchen at a ‘multi-cultural’ (Sikhs, Muslims, Christians and more) girls’ comprehensive in a major town in East Berkshire. She has been working there without issue since June last year. Prior to this, she has run her own (very successful) gastro-pub and for the 6 years prior to getting this latest employ was a supply teacher. She is also a trained counsellor (specialising in abused kids) and is an emergency foster carer for the local council.
At the school where she now works, she has introduced a policy of only preparing food using fresh ingredients and all to be prepared fresh on the day of consumption – Due to the school having Muslim kids all the meat is Halal – The school is on the verge of attaining 5-star status with regard meals which is not achieved by many. Kids taking school dinners have increased during her tenure from c250 per day to c 550 per day, even the staff indulge whereas before their absence was notable. She manages a staff of 8.
An issue has now arisen which will now likely lead to her dismissal (she is the boss and the buck stops there) and I am livid.
On the day the school were serving Christmas Lunch, it appears one of the canteen staff mistakenly gave a ‘pig in blanket’ to a Muslim student (the Christian element at the school insisted Christmas Lunch should not be Halal meat!!). Rather than ask for a new plate of food, the student waited until she was home and told her parents. They escalated to their (two!?!) mosques who contacted the school in the New Year looking for a scapegoat and threatening national press and pickets outside the school until action is taken. Now bear in mind my partner fields questions on a daily basis such as “is this custard Halal?” or “I’m a Muslim can I eat cheese?”. Should it really be her (or the school’s) responsibility to educate Muslim kids in the rules of Dhabihah??
The school governors meet this evening to decide my partner’s fate. The headmistress has on several occasions bowed to this type of external pressure before. My partner will likely lose a job she loves as it combines her 2 passions, cooking and working with kids.
Is there anything we can do??
Then Daily Mail.
How old was the student? If she was 5, sadly, (and ridiculously) I think your missus is in bother.
If she was 11, I don't think she should be held at all responsible.
Did your missus complain at being 'forced' to serve non-halal food?
There could be grounds for an appeal along the lines of 'of course mistakes can happen at the point of service if you don't let me prevent them at source'.
If she was 11, I don't think she should be held at all responsible.
Did your missus complain at being 'forced' to serve non-halal food?
There could be grounds for an appeal along the lines of 'of course mistakes can happen at the point of service if you don't let me prevent them at source'.
BarnatosGhost said:
How old was the student? If she was 5, sadly, (and ridiculously) I think your missus is in bother.
If she was 11, I don't think she should be held at all responsible.
13 - It's a Comprehensive schoolIf she was 11, I don't think she should be held at all responsible.
BarnatosGhost said:
Did your missus complain at being 'forced' to serve non-halal food?
It is multi-cultural and for ease of preparation it was decided to go 100% Halal (it all tastes the same!!)Sounds like f
king bks to me.
Does she get to attend this meeting in order to defend herself?
In the end, the Muslim community have no more rights than the Christian or any other community based at the school. Seeing as Halal meat is served throughout the remainder of the year, I see no reason why the other religious groups shouldn't be given consideration on their main religious days.
In the end, if the stupid little muslim cow didn't want a 'pig in a blanket' she should of refused. How the hell are the canteen staff supposed to keep track of who is muslim and who isn't?
Of course if you worked on the theory that all Asian kids were muslim, you'd have the racist card thrown in our face and be in exactly the same position. Makes my piss boil...
king bks to me.Does she get to attend this meeting in order to defend herself?
In the end, the Muslim community have no more rights than the Christian or any other community based at the school. Seeing as Halal meat is served throughout the remainder of the year, I see no reason why the other religious groups shouldn't be given consideration on their main religious days.
In the end, if the stupid little muslim cow didn't want a 'pig in a blanket' she should of refused. How the hell are the canteen staff supposed to keep track of who is muslim and who isn't?
Of course if you worked on the theory that all Asian kids were muslim, you'd have the racist card thrown in our face and be in exactly the same position. Makes my piss boil...
Edited by The Beaver King on Tuesday 17th January 12:25
BarnatosGhost said:
How old was the student? If she was 5, sadly, (and ridiculously) I think your missus is in bother.
If she was 11, I don't think she should be held at all responsible.
Did your missus complain at being 'forced' to serve non-halal food?
There could be grounds for an appeal along the lines of 'of course mistakes can happen at the point of service if you don't let me prevent them at source'.
I'm not sure how she would be in bother it was one of her staff that gave the child the food not her?.If she was 11, I don't think she should be held at all responsible.
Did your missus complain at being 'forced' to serve non-halal food?
There could be grounds for an appeal along the lines of 'of course mistakes can happen at the point of service if you don't let me prevent them at source'.
ACAS should be your first port of call. They do this stuff for a living so will be more relevant and useful than an internet full of angry people 
Edit: IMHO, and only IMHO, it'll come down to whether she ensured her staff were adequately informed/trained to know that it was wrong. She'll need tick-sheets galore to show that they've been told how to do all sorts of stuff. Seriously noddy stuff too.
We have an issue at the momen where someone (aged 16ish) didn't manage to open a door correctly. I st you not. We now have a "where there's blaim there's a claim" situation going on.
Edit: IMHO, and only IMHO, it'll come down to whether she ensured her staff were adequately informed/trained to know that it was wrong. She'll need tick-sheets galore to show that they've been told how to do all sorts of stuff. Seriously noddy stuff too.
We have an issue at the momen where someone (aged 16ish) didn't manage to open a door correctly. I s
t you not. We now have a "where there's blaim there's a claim" situation going on.Edited by Landlord on Tuesday 17th January 12:28
BarnatosGhost said:
How old was the student? If she was 5, sadly, (and ridiculously) I think your missus is in bother.
If she was 11, I don't think she should be held at all responsible.
Did your missus complain at being 'forced' to serve non-halal food?
There could be grounds for an appeal along the lines of 'of course mistakes can happen at the point of service if you don't let me prevent them at source'.
Not clear if the PiB was eaten or left on the side of the plate though.If she was 11, I don't think she should be held at all responsible.
Did your missus complain at being 'forced' to serve non-halal food?
There could be grounds for an appeal along the lines of 'of course mistakes can happen at the point of service if you don't let me prevent them at source'.
Nor is it clear that she could have had any influence on this at all. Yes she is the boss but if ONE Halal plate had a PiB that suggests a single minor error on service, otherwise there would have been lots of Muslim people pointing out that unwanted extra.
Rude-boy said:
Not clear if the PiB was eaten or left on the side of the plate though.
Nor is it clear that she could have had any influence on this at all. Yes she is the boss but if ONE Halal plate had a PiB that suggests a single minor error on service, otherwise there would have been lots of Muslim people pointing out that unwanted extra.
It was left (the kid really should have asked for a replacement plate but didn't)Nor is it clear that she could have had any influence on this at all. Yes she is the boss but if ONE Halal plate had a PiB that suggests a single minor error on service, otherwise there would have been lots of Muslim people pointing out that unwanted extra.
It was only one plate
Also, the hypocrisy of this whole affair is that thge majority of the Muslim kids who have breakfast ask specifically for bacon!!
ZOLLAR said:
GroundEffect said:
ZOLLAR said:
I'm not sure how she would be in bother it was one of her staff that gave the child the food not her?.
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