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Married at First Sight Star Luke Worley Loses Unfair Dismissal Claim Against EE
Reality TV personality Luke Worley, famed for Married at First Sight UK, has suffered a major blow after an employment tribunal rejected his unfair dismissal claim against EE. The 31-year-old former store manager was fired for skipping work without permission to film a Channel 4 show in Spain.
Denied Leave, Went to Spain Anyway
Worley requested three weeks off in 2021 to appear on The Language of Love, a dating show where contestants couldn’t speak each other’s language. The tribunal heard EE refused his leave because it was the busy period around the iPhone 13 launch.
Despite the denial, Worley informed his manager he was going to Spain anyway. On his return, an investigation was launched which led to his dismissal for gross misconduct.
Tribunal Slams Worley’s Excuses
“Worley’s claim that his absence was a misunderstanding was ‘incredible’, with no ‘legitimate reason’ found,” said Employment Judge Stephen Shore.
Worley also claimed his dyslexia impacted his grasp of EE’s attendance policies. The judge disagreed, saying he was fully capable of understanding company rules.
From Reality Fame to Tribunal Defeat
After leaving EE, Worley tried to build a TV career. He joined Married at First Sight UK in 2023 but exited after a physical fight with another contestant. His appearance on The Language of Love aired in January 2022.
Worley has declined to comment on the tribunal verdict, which also dismissed his claims of breach of contract and disability discrimination. The ruling confirmed his dismissal was justified due to unauthorised leave.
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