Worker sacked for stud reinstated

Amrit Lalji wears the stud as part of her Hindu faith

A Heathrow Airport customer relations worker who was dismissed for wearing a nose stud has won her job back.

Amrit Lalji, 40, of Stanmore, north-west London, was sacked last month for insisting she wore the stud as part of her Hindu religion.

The mother of three, who works for Eurest caterers at Terminal One, appealed against her sacking with the help of the GMB union.

Eurest said her sacking had been due to a "misunderstanding" of staff rules.

Unjustified dismissal

She had worn the stud at work for more than a year until a manager told her to remove it.

She refused and was suspended, and subsequently sacked.

Eurest had said for health and safety reasons jewellery and piercings were not allowed at work.

Mrs Lalji said she had produced a letter from her local Hindu community to support her case.

"I'm happy I got my job back," she told BBC London.

After the internal hearing, a Eurest spokesman said the rules relating to facial piercings were mandatory only in catering operations.

"Since Mrs Lalji is not engaged in catering, her dismissal resulted from a misunderstanding of the rules and is therefore unjustified," he said.

Tahir Bhatti, of the GMB which back Mrs Lalji's case, said: "GMB welcomes Eurest's decision that she is reinstated in her position immediate and without detriment or loss of pay."