Day 119 - 02 May 95 - Page 38
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2 MR. MORRIS: So did they spend all the time checking? How would
3 they find out about this then, your Field Personnel
4 Officer?
5 A. As I said, there would be a record made of that, and
6 they would know where to look for that record, probably on
7 the manager's file.
8
9 Q. So they would check the manager's disciplinary file, would
10 they?
11 A. Oh, yes, absolutely.
12
13 Q. For every store in the London and south area?
14 A. Yes, on an audit.
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16 Q. Once a year on the audit?
17 A. Not necessarily once a year.
18
19 Q. But generally once a year was the full field audit, yes?
20 A. Yes, unless we felt it was necessary to carry out more.
21
22 Q. But there would be no record at Head Office, in some
23 accessible form, for you as Head of the Department to know
24 whether breaches were taking place on a wide scale or not?
25 A. Not necessarily, no.
26
27 Q. So, in reality, breaches may have been taking place on a
28 wide scale but you personally would not have known about
29 it?
30 A. No, I have faith in the system.
31
32 Q. You said that if that had been found out -- the first time
33 you said it, you said it in evidence-in-chief -- "Breaches
34 of employment regulations for young people would have been
35 dealt with very severely"?
36 A. Yes.
37
38 Q. Then, the other day you said, I think, something
39 equivalent, the same?
40 A. Rigorously.
41
42 Q. No, you said "severely". Then the last time you mentioned
43 it, you said: "It may have just been a chat from one of
44 supervisors"?
45 A. No, it would not just be a chat, I said he would have
46 dealt with it as appropriately.
47
48 Q. So, what would be the general disciplinary action, very
49 severe discipline action, that would be taken against a
50 manager that broke the law five times in one day as regards
51 the employment of young people?
52 A. Well, I would have to know all the surrounding
53 circumstances to even hazard a guess at what action was
54 taken.
55
56 Q. What are your very severe punishments, or actions to be
57 taken against managers? Give us an example of very severe
58 actions?
59 A. Severely reprimanded.
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