'Out of proportion' | 'Missing mug' row escalated into race & sex discrimination tribunal

A worker’s “tenacity” over a missing office mug and an unsuccessful bid to take five weeks’ holiday contributed to tensions that spiralled into a raft of ultimately unsuccessful tribunal claims, a panel has found.

In a ruling handed down in March 2025, the Southampton Employment Tribunal dismissed nearly all claims brought by Mr Adeel Habib against high street tech retailer Currys, including allegations of unfair dismissal, race and sex discrimination, and failure to accommodate his disability. 

However, the panel did find that Habib had been underpaid notice pay and awarded him more than £1,200 in damages.

Rejected claims of race discrimination over annual leave refusal

Mr Habib, a British Asian of Pakistani origin, argued that Currys had discriminated against him on the grounds of race, citing two incidents: the refusal of a holiday request and allegedly being made to feel unwelcome at work.