A man was fired after being accused of impersonating Michael Jackson and was charged with killing Michael Jackson, the employment court found.
Lucasz Zawadzki was accused by a colleague of his treble “hee hee” noise mimicking the American pop star, and the Manchester court heard it.
Mr. Zawadzki was also accused by his black colleagues who made the voice of monkeys in the cooperative warehouse where they worked and became a racist.
He admitted to making “embarrassing and teenagers” voices in the workplace, but said they were not racists.
The cooperative was ordered to pay him more than £10,000 in compensation after employment judge Carol Porter discovered he was unfairly fired.
According to the court's ruling, a colleague known as SM reported to his manager that he had become bullied in December 2023.
Mr. Zawadzki was told to file a complaint against him, and colleagues claimed he made a “scream with Michael Jackson” which was described as a high “hee hee” sound.
Later, he admitted to making a “gunt” sound with another colleague and agreed that the noise could be described as “climax” and “inappropriate” in the workplace.
He also said a colleague commented on his “loud laughter.”
But he denied pretending to be an American pop star and making a monkey voice, saying he didn't want to “bully or hurt someone.”
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The court heard that Mr. Zawazki was in “inappropriate comments on alleged violations of bullying, harassment and discrimination policies, especially the harm and distress of colleagues”.
Judge Porter said in his judgment: “In essence, the claimant’s misconduct is inappropriate juvenile behavior in the workplace.
“There is no satisfactory evidence in the firing of the official that the specific acknowledged behavior may cause him to be bothered by SM.
“There is no satisfactory evidence before the officer is fired that the claimant has committed bullying or harassment by making these sounds.
“The claimant gave clear evidence, which is not contradictory, he has been working with SM for a long time, and SM never told him that he found this inappropriate and teenage behavior to be offensive.”
She also found that “the claimant was unaware of the company’s inappropriate and juvenile behavior in the workplace, or “received any warning that such behavior is unacceptable.”