Italian chef fired after refusing to put pineapple on pizza
Summary
An Italian chef was fired from a Brisbane restaurant after refusing several times to make pizza with pineapple, which he said offended his culture. Australia’s Fair Work Commission rejected his unfair-dismissal claim because he filed it too late, not because it ruled on the merits of his dismissal.Key Facts
- Davide Tamburella was fired from the now-closed La Costa restaurant in May.
- Management cited complaints about Tamburella’s behavior, including foul language, communication style and frustration at work.
- At a function, Tamburella refused to make ham-and-pineapple pizza, saying management instructions need not be followed if they offended his culture.
- The commission noted that this was the third time in four years that Tamburella had refused to put pineapple on pizza.
- Tamburella fractured bones in his right hand after striking a metal hand rail at work in April.
- The restaurant ended its process to sponsor a skilled-worker visa for Tamburella after firing him.
- Queensland produces all of Australia’s commercially grown pineapples, according to the article.
- Tamburella’s unfair-dismissal claim was rejected because he filed it after the deadline. He now works at another Brisbane restaurant.
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