A British Airways employee has won his case for unfair dismissal after he was accused of masturbating near a colleague, with an employment tribunal ruling in his favor following a cleared court case.
A British Airways cabin crew member, Okan Dalkiran, was recently reinstated after winning an unfair dismissal case against the airline. Dalkiran had been accused of inappropriate behavior, specifically allegations of masturbating near a female colleague while at the Heathrow Airport staff 'rest centre'. The events reportedly unfolded on August 15, 2023, when a female colleague noticed him during a resting period, leading to a serious investigation into his conduct and subsequent arrest.
During the tribunal proceedings, it was revealed that this accusation stemmed from subjective perceptions as the woman, referred to as 'X', recounted hearing a 'loud clapping sound,' which prompted her to look over and observe Mr. Dalkiran with bedsheets drawn up to his waist, allegedly in the act of masturbation. Following the accusation, he was dismissed from his job at British Airways, which led him to seek legal redress through the tribunal following his clearance of the charges in a court of law.
The tribunal determined that the dismissal was unfair, as sufficient evidence did not support the claims against Dalkiran. The ruling underscores important implications for employment protocols regarding employee dismissal, particularly in sensitive matters where the burden of proof and the nature of accusations are heavily scrutinized. This case also highlights the need for robust procedural frameworks to evaluate allegations of misconduct in workplace environments effectively.
