Italian chef dismissed from Queensland restaurant after refusing pineapple topping
An Italian chef was terminated from a Brisbane eatery after repeatedly declining to prepare ham and pineapple pizza, citing cultural objections, and his unfair-dismissal claim was rejected by the Fair Work Commission.
A chef from Italy was dismissed from the La Costa restaurant in Brisbane after refusing to make a ham and pineapple pizza for a function, saying the topping conflicted with his cultural background. The Fair Work Commission ruled that the chef had previously declined to use pineapple on pizzas on three occasions over four years and had asked management to consider the importance of the issue to Italians.
The commission also noted other workplace concerns, including the chef's use of foul language, his communication style and an incident in April where he fractured bones in his right hand after striking a metal handrail.
The chef had sought sponsorship for a skilled-worker visa that would allow permanent residency, but his unfair-dismissal claim was rejected because the application was filed after the deadline.
Elliot Ingram, managing director of the now-closed restaurant, said there was "more to this story than a pizza topping". The chef’s LinkedIn profile describes his career focus on delivering exceptional food and improving business performance.