Workplace Wars!

[Burnham Lad]

The Times Online searched through its archives for some of the most colourful employment disputes over the last few years. Here are some of the best!

 

o The managing director of an IT company based in Surrey who had a piece of chewing gum stick to the seat of his trousers when he sat in an office chair demanded that his 80 staff submit to a DNA test to attempt to identify the culprit.

 

o A 34-year-old masseuse sued the prestigious Old Course Hotel at St Andrews for unfair dismissal and sexual discrimination after she was allegedly fired for accusing an A-list celebrity client of lewd conduct; the employment tribunal later identified the celebrity as Kevin Costner after his name was posted all over the internet. According to the masseuse, the Dances With Wolves star removed his towel and asked her to "touch him everywhere". Costner, who was on his honeymoon and taking part in a golf tournament, denied the accusation vehemently. The hotel later settled with the woman.

 

o A Muslim insurance salesman took offence when his employer began offering bottles of wine for good performance. He said that Direct Line