Tesco staff awarded £11,000 compensation following workplace accidents

Two Tesco employees have been compensated after suing the supermarket chain for negligence.

One employee at the supermarket giant received £7,000 following an accident which led to severe neck and back injuries, while the other received nearly £4,000 after slipping on a loading bay ramp and injuring his finger.

In August 2006, one claimant was driving a reach truck along the aisle of the distribution centre in Tesco’s Purfleet warehouse. As he drove past one of the aisles, a Rollop – a vehicle that can pull up to three stock cages – hit the side of his truck.

Then in September, the other claimant fell while he was working in a warehouse unloading a lorry, because the canopy leaked and the ramp was slippery.

Ian Maidlow, Unite (Amicus section) regional officer, said: “We’re pleased with the compensation secured for both of our members. We hope that it serves as a warning to Tesco and to other employers – large and small.”

William Seymour, from Thompsons Solicitors in Chelmsford, added: “It is unacceptable for a major brand and a leading employer such as Tesco to put employees at risk by not providing a safe working environment. All employers have a duty of care to their employees.”

In January this year, Tesco was accused of treating staff in its Polish stores “like criminals”, after employees told a Polish newspaper that they were subjected to frequent “rough and humiliating” body searches, and “aggressive and degrading” behaviour from store managers.