'Taking client property' | Cleaner sacked after eating leftover sandwich takes law firm to court

A cleaner is suing a London law firm for indirect race discrimination after being sacked for eating a sandwich leftover following a lawyers’ meeting.

As first reported by Roll On Friday, Gabriela Rodriguez was employed by Total Clean, and was contracted to clean the offices of Devonshires Solicitors for two years before her sacking.

United Voices of the World union (UVW), a union which supports migrant workers, claims the Ecuadorian national was dismissed just before Christmas 2023, after Total Clean reportedly received a complaint from Devonshires - a legal firm based in the City - about leftover sandwiches being eaten.

The union says Rodriguez ate a tuna sandwich, valued at £1.50, which she thought would otherwise be thrown out after the meeting had ended.