Sainsbury's manager fired for 'trying to rig internal survey' sues for £139,000

 
Claim: Colin Adesokan is demanding lost wages and share options

A Sainsbury's manager is suing the supermarket for up to £139,000 for wrongful dismissal, lost salary, benefits and lapsed shares after he was sacked for allegedly trying to rig an internal feedback survey.

Colin Adesokan, 47, was fired from his London regional manager’s job in October after a whistleblower sent an email to chief executive Justin King.

It said the whistleblower’s store was celebrating a good result in the company’s Talkback scheme because Mr Adesokan and his colleague Spencer Briner had asked for only the “most enthusiastic” members of staff to participate. A message allegedly sent to stores from Mr Briner’s email account on June 13 last year said: “I think you should focus predominantly on getting your most enthusiastic colleagues to fill in the survey.” It ended: “Good luck Spencer and Colin.”

Mr Adesokan was fired for gross negligence last October. John Bye, Sainsbury’s customer service director, said the £107,000-a-year executive was responsible for the scheme and “failed to take adequate steps” to put right Mr Briner’s actions.

But Mr Adesokan, of Shepherd’s Bush, denies the gross misconduct charge. He insists he was not complicit in sending or drafting the email and did not see it until June 24. This was apparently confirmed by Mr Briner, the regional human resources business partner.

In his writ against Sainsbury’s, Mr Adesokan said store managers in Fulham, Putney and Kingston denied they were influenced by the email.

But it was conceded in the court papers that “with hindsight” Mr Adesokan should have referred the email to line managers once he knew about it.

A Sainsbury’s spokesman said the company was unable to comment because the case was ongoing.

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