Chef loses unfair dismissal appeal over pineapple pizza refusals
Australia's Fair Work Commission has rejected an unfair dismissal claim by Italian chef Davide Tamburella, who was fired from the La Costa restaurant in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, on 20 May. The commission ruled the application was filed more than 21 days after the dismissal and found no exceptional circumstances, according to Commissioner Jennifer Hunt. The ruling, released on Tuesday, cited Tamburella's refusals to put pineapple on pizza, his use of inappropriate language and concerns about leadership behaviour. Tamburella said his firing was partly linked to a hand injury. The restaurant closed after its lease expired in July.
Key facts
- The ruling was released on Tuesday, and it noted three refusals to add pineapple to pizza over four years.
- A customer's function with a bill above A$15,000 requested ham and pineapple pizzas, which was disputed.
- Restaurant owner Elliot Ingram said accommodating customers was part of running a restaurant.
- Tamburella now works at a new Italian restaurant where pineapple is not on the menu.
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Why it matters
The ruling sets out how a workplace dispute over a menu item was assessed under Australian employment law.
What changed
First published from The Guardian, BBC News, Hindustan Times, The Independent and ANSA English