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A part-time cleaner at Aberystwyth University has been awarded more than £260,000 after an employment tribunal ruled her dismissal was unfair. The case centered around a long-running dispute between the cleaner, Peak Ong, aged 72, and her manager, Catherine Green, including a controversy involving a banned rice cooker.
Ong worked at the university between November 2014 and May 2022 and was dismissed in 2021 due to allegations of breaching a confidential agreement from a prior mediation. The dispute partly arose from an incident where Ong was accused of buying a rice cooker for a student, an appliance prohibited in the university’s residential halls. Though Ong denied purchasing the rice cooker, the tribunal found the university did not issue any warning that such an action could lead to disciplinary consequences.
Beyond the unfair dismissal, the tribunal also determined that Ong had been victimised after losing a job opportunity with Ceredigion Council. The university had provided a reference noting an “ongoing dispute,” which contributed to the withdrawal of the job offer and hindered her ability to find other roles. Employment Judge Dilbaag Bansal criticized the university’s behaviour as “irresponsible and retaliatory,” highlighting the impact on Ong’s mental health, including increased depression, anxiety, and feelings of humiliation.
The tribunal report revealed that the university acknowledged flaws in their disciplinary procedures, with a spokesperson stating some protocols were “not applied correctly in this instance” and expressing regret for the distress caused. Throughout the dispute, Ong had made complaints about alleged bullying from Green, although the tribunal dismissed claims related to age discrimination. Despite mediation efforts, tensions persisted, culminating in Ong’s suspension and eventual dismissal after she was unable to secure a new position at the university. The university continues to review its processes to prevent similar issues in the future
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