Long-Serving Sainsbury’s Worker Fired Over Unpaid Bags for Life
A loyal Sainsbury’s employee was shown the door after two decades on the job – all for nabbing bags for life without paying. The incident happened at the Romford Superstore in East London, where Niamke Doffou had worked since 2003.
CCTV Catches Employee Dodging Payment
Last October, Doffou selected the ‘zero bags used’ option on the self-service checkout and walked off with reusable bags without paying. Management confronted him after CCTV footage revealed the sneaky move. Despite his claim he was “tired” and “unaware” of his actions, the tribunal branded it gross misconduct and upheld his dismissal.
£30 Shopping Spree Ends in Dismissal
The tribunal also heard Doffou went on a personal shopping spree worth £30 after a night shift during the August bank holiday in 2022. While he admitted taking the bags without payment, he insisted it wasn’t deliberate and blamed exhaustion. The tribunal rejected this, concluding he had acted dishonestly.
Sainsbury’s Sends a Clear Message
Employment Judge Eleena Misra K.C confirmed the supermarket’s investigation was “reasonable and proportionate.” She said Doffou was given a fair chance to respond. His sacking sends a strong warning: no theft is tolerated, no matter how small the value or how long you’ve served.
The episode highlights the vital importance of honesty in the workplace and the serious consequences dishonest behaviour can have – even when it involves just 30p or 65p reusable bags for life.
