Sam Smith's staff back in court

A sacked Sam Smith's brewery manager has claimed a cut back in staff hours posed a threat to the efficient operation and security at her pub, an employment tribunal has been told.

Pam Marshall, who ran the Holly Bush at Edenthorpe, Doncaster, refused to carry out the reduction and paid for the decision with her job, the tribunal heard.

She spoke at the resumed hearing into her unfair dismissal claim along with nine other management couples who also refused to implement new hours. The reduction from 89 to 45 per week was imposed by the brewery in an attempt to reduce costs and address poor trade.

Marshall said: "We thought it would affect our ability to run the pub efficiently or securely as we often needed more than one behind the bar. We were warned excess staff wages could be taken out of our wages or our bond."

She claimed the brewery wanted to cut down in other areas including maintenance running costs. "We were told unnecessary call out of contractors might lead to a deduction from our wages or bond. They said the company could not afford such unecessary expenditure," she added.

Marshall claimed company director Humphrey Smith was unwilling to listen to their concerns.

The managers claim they were dismissed from their jobs before agreed grievance procedures had been concluded. The tribunal heard that under the new staff hours the Holly Bush had now turned in a better financial performance.

The verdict is expected in about a month's time.