A railway staff member has been terminated from their position following an incident where first-class passengers were served sausage rolls sourced from a bin on the train. Peter Duffy, a long-time employee of LNER, was accused of handling discarded snacks that were later given to hungry travelers by a coworker. Duffy explained that he went to great lengths to satisfy the customer’s request when normal stock was unavailable.
During a journey departing from York, Duffy and a colleague were approached by two first-class passengers seeking sausage rolls. The colleague informed them that the rolls had been disposed of, but laughter was overheard from the train’s kitchen where the food was being prepared. Subsequently, the staff member discovered the bin empty and suspected that Duffy had retrieved the discarded items for reheating and serving.
CCTV footage revealed that Duffy indeed retrieved the food from the bin, plated and reheated it, and had it served to customers by his coworker. Both employees were suspended pending an investigation into food hygiene violations. Duffy defended his actions by stating that he was trying to provide exceptional service to the customers, citing personal struggles with anxiety and depression.
An investigation revealed that Duffy had committed gross misconduct by serving food from the bin, leading to his dismissal for breaching company standards. Despite claiming unfair dismissal and discrimination, a tribunal ruled against Duffy, asserting that his actions were not influenced by his medical condition. LNER emphasized their commitment to customer welfare and safety, taking immediate action to address the incident.
