Lake District hotel worker loses dismissal case over unpermitted holiday

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 11 Nov, 12:09 · Archive

Dylan Forster, a kitchen porter at a Lake District hotel, has lost an employment tribunal after booking a four-week South Africa holiday without permission.

Dylan Forster, who worked as a kitchen porter at the Inn on the Lake in Glenridding, has lost an employment tribunal case against Lake District Hotels Limited. He brought claims of disability discrimination and constructive unfair dismissal after resigning in August 2024. An employment tribunal found the sole reason for his resignation was that his manager refused to authorise his requested holiday during the hotel's busiest trading period.

Forster and his partner Katie Mossop, who worked at the hotel as a housekeeper, booked flights to South Africa on 26 June 2024 before securing permission for time off. They intended to visit Kruger National Park with Forster's mother. However, the hotel's policy restricted staff to one week's leave during July, August and September, with longer absences requiring a written business case.

When Forster requested four weeks off, general manager Gary Wilson refused to authorise it. His mother, Julia Forster, sent a WhatsApp message to a hotel manager stating: 'When we got Kate's okay, we assumed Dylan's would have been approved so booked and paid for their flight. Now Gary is saying (he) can't have the days off. It's so dam frustrating.'

Forster subsequently suggested rearranging the trip for January 2025, but the tribunal found he already knew accommodation at Kruger National Park was unavailable. He explained that he wanted to accompany his mother because of concerns about her mental health.

The tribunal also rejected allegations of bullying and harassment. It criticised the reliability of Forster's evidence and examined conversations he secretly recorded with colleagues and managers. The judgment was published on 6 November following a hearing in Manchester.

How it is being reported

• Worker at 5* hotel booked four-week South Africa summer holiday before asking bossA Lake District hotel worker who booked a four-week holiday before getting permission has lost his unfair dismissal tribunal claims.NW Evening Mail · 11 Nov, 08:57
• Worker at 5* hotel booked four-week South Africa summer holiday before asking bossA Lake District hotel worker who booked a four-week holiday before getting permission has lost his unfair dismissal tribunal claims.Westmorland Gazette · 11 Nov, 08:57
• Tribunal rules on hotel worker who booked four-week holiday before asking bossA Lake District hotel worker who booked a four-week holiday before getting permission has lost his unfair dismissal tribunal claims.News & Star · 11 Nov, 05:00
• Tribunal rules on hotel worker who booked four-week holiday before asking bossA Lake District hotel worker who booked a four-week holiday before getting permission has lost his unfair dismissal tribunal claims.Whitehaven News · 11 Nov, 05:00

In this story: Dylan Forster · Katie Mossop · Gary Wilson · Lake District Hotels Limited · Inn on the Lake · Glenridding · South Africa · Kruger National Park

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log