Is this legal

[OldBreweryDrinker]

Come across this articel about a manager getting sacked becasue his wife left. It seems he lost the case but was wondering whether this is legal in this day and age.
It is a couple of years old.
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/around-yorkshire/local-stories/brewery_forces_landlord_to_quit_after_wife_left_him_1_2433660

[DarkieBoy]

I struggle to see why he should and would be sacked because someone else leaves?  It just seems wrong, both legally and morally to me.

DB.

[Milton]

I did hear about a couple who were asked to leave because they had broken up. This couple weren't married, but as they were hired as a management couple, HS apparently saw this as a breach of their contract. They told me he had no sympathy for their situation and no interest whatsoever in keeping either of them on as single or relief managers if they were no longer a couple, losing their jobs and their livelihood.

[DarkieBoy]

And if one half of a "management couple" was to die, would Humphrey Smith have any sympathy?

DB.

[Milton]

And if one half of a "management couple" was to die, would Humphrey Smith have any sympathy?

DB.

He still probably wouldn't employ the other one !

[ian]

And if one half of a "management couple" was to die, would Humphrey Smith have any sympathy?

DB.

NO, It's happened twice to my knowledge.

But I've also see two Sam Smiths pubs run by lone females, but I've heard that both have moved on now.

ian. 

[DarkieBoy]

And if one half of a "management couple" was to die, would Humphrey Smith have any sympathy?

DB.

NO, It's happened twice to my knowledge.

But I've also see two Sam Smiths pubs run by lone females, but I've heard that both have moved on now.

ian.

Yes, the White Horse (Nellies) in Beverley was run by just Anna.  She now runs a pub in Lincoln again (not Samuel Smith's).  Previously, she ran the Cornhill Vaults (Samuel Smith's) in Lincoln by herself, I think.

DB.

[antthe2nd]

its in the contract from the start,that if one goes so must the other,that includes death, eg: ex general ellliot couple, and women who are sole management are on old contracts before the rot set in

[minsterman]

I'm pretty sure that the words, 'moral' and 'sympathy' do not exist in H Smiths vocabulary, were as 'evil'.. 

[shemon]

I have just finished working for Sam Smiths.  Because I wanted to leave my hubby had to as well.  It was a joint managed pub. It does state in contract that if one partner leaves, the other has to.

Last year, one of our friends, who also worked for Sam Smiths, lost her hubby. Before the funeral, Humphrey send her a letter giving her 3 months notice.

[minsterman]

Last year, one of our friends, who also worked for Sam Smiths, lost her hubby. Before the funeral, Humphrey send her a letter giving her 3 months notice.

..add to that 'compassion', also not in Smiths vocabulary!

[Milton]

The point I was making in my earlier post was that even after a bereavement or breakup, the individuals concerned could still be useful employees for the brewery, maybe as single managers or used as relief to cover holidays, holding pubs until suitable managers can be found, etc. To discard valuable employees who already know the job, the Smiths way, seems very short-sighted, but we know from this forum that vision is not one of HS' strengths. It also shows that he doesn't actually consider employees to be valuable.
If the story regarding HS giving a widow 3 months notice before her husband's funeral is true, then that's awful ! Topic : Is this legal ? !!!

[ademapearl]

The  widow is lucky to get 3 months notice! Humphrey often wants the lone partner out in 3 days , or 3 weeks if they are lucky. Still does not make it right to give peremptory notice without giving options. I have seen many examples of his cruel attitude myself, and my experience is limited.

[shemon]

It is true about the widow. Customers were ready to lynch HS. She stayed on at pub for another few months cos she got someone else to manage it with her.

You're right about the ex managers being good single managers who have a purpose. My hubby is now working for another brewery doing holding relief.

[yorkie]

There is a pub in the Doncaster area being managed by one person. His wife was working in the pub full time but left to go back to her old job. She was the one with the food hygiene qualification, so no food there even if anyone wanted any (unlikely!),

Perhaps he is Humphrey's pet.