In a recent development, a Spanish court has upheld a ruling that a supermarket worker was wrongfully terminated for consuming a croquette that was slated to be discarded after not being sold from the store's deli section. The incident occurred in July 2023 when the worker ingested the fried snack, which was intended for disposal at the end of the store's operating hours.
The Superior Court of Castilla-La Mancha recently denied an appeal by the supermarket chain against a lower court's decision in May 2024 that favored the worker. The company's policy prohibits employees from consuming any items from the store without prior payment. However, the superior court noted that it was customary for workers to partake in 'ready to eat' food items that were destined for disposal after closing time.
The court emphasized that the worker had only consumed a single croquette, which was not going to be resold the next day, rather than an entire package. As a result, the court ruled in favor of the worker, ordering his reinstatement to the job and awarding him 39,700 euros ($41,800) in lost wages. Additionally, the supermarket chain was directed to pay the worker 600 euros ($633) to cover his legal expenses.
The court documents did not specify the flavor of the croquette, a popular Spanish food typically made from ingredients such as ham, chicken, or cod.
