Is it legal to sack someone for doing a favour?

We had hired a bathroom company to do a huge bathroom in our job, and after getting to know one of their employees who happened to be working on our bathroom and being pleased with his work, we hired him to work on a SEPERATE job of tiling our extension, this was in his own time, not affecting his work for the other company, BUT was using the company's equipment so had to be kept quiet.

The company found out on the first day somehow, and they have know sacked the employee in question and less importantly stopped (possibly temporarily) the work on our bathroom.

The main issue is them firing the employee, we feel completely responsible for him to lose his job because of us asking him to do us a favour.

I'd appreciate knowing if it is legal for them to treat him like this as I had thought they would have to give a warning first..

Thankyou so much.
Additional Details
And what if he had done the job without using the company's equipment...?

Jack

The employee broke the rules, it's his fault not yours.

The employer has determined that he can't be trusted. He should have put the job through the company not decided to freelance on their reputation....using their equipment.

It is legal for them to dismiss him for cause such as this.
If someone was working for you and you found out he was stealing from you.........how many chances would you give him?

goz1111

it is after the fact about using company tools for personal reasons, there is nothing you can do to get his job back, he violated company policy and was terminated

on your own work read the contract and force them to perform under the contract terms

Rockies VM

Customers frequently ask for favors, employees are told how to handle it gracefully.

I doubt that this was his first time, just first time easily caught.

stay out of it, you don't know all the info.

felling bad is natural, glad to see you have a conscience, but, stay out of it.

mannasox

IT is very legal for the employer to fire the employee, because he STOLE THEIR work from your company. Its unfair for the company that you hired to work on your bathrooms to lose work, but the employees do it on the side. I own my own business too, and I'd be very angry if one of my employees stole work from my business on the side. If he hadnt done the job, then you'd end up going through HIS employer to do the other job. I understand you're trying to save a few bucks, but its not fair to ask employees of a company to do a job on the side. They will most likely be fired if caught. ITs like working for walmart...... anyone working for walmart is not allowed to have a second job at any other retail store in the area. Its a rule that most companies have, some cities too.

Jacky.- the "INDIAN".

Don`t be a bad employer.
Try to help him out.

voodoodolly

Appropriating company materials to make money for your individual gain is indeed an offense that could legally lead to firing. The company could make the case that it is akin to stealing. After all, their equipment is depreciating but they aren't being compensated for it. At the very least, it could be interpreted as a conflict of interest.

Most places have policies like this, even down to making moonlighting unacceptable (you would think what you do on your own time would be off limits to their jurisdiction, but it's not always).

An employer is not always obligated to give warning before firing if the offense is considered grievous. If you hit your boss, you would be fired on the spot, for example.

Your feeling badly about this person losing his job is admirable but I really have to wonder if he didn't realize what he was doing was wrong. He might not have considered the extent or repercussions, but I doubt he is a total wide-eyed innocent.

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