A store worker has been fired after he gave employee discounts to pensioners and a war veteran.
John Burley, 64, fears he will not get another job and claimed he was never told it was against company policy.
He said he would have “stopped straight away” using his Co-op staff discount card for elderly customers had he received a verbal warning.
Mr Burley, who worked at a store close to his home in Eastleigh, Hants, said he was “gutted” after losing his job close to Christmas.
He said: “Someone my age trying to find a job now will be really tough – it is bound to have a massive impact on my finances.”
Mr Burley last month was quizzed by a manager about the use of his discount card.
It offers employees 30% off Co-op branded products and 10% off everything else.
The ex-store worker said: “I just wanted to do something nice for the veteran. It was my way to honour him but I had no idea it was against the company’s policy.”
“[My boss] then told me that he would suspend me and that an investigation would be done. I was shocked because at no given moment was I told by anybody that what I did was wrong.”
A week later the store’s temporary manager decided to dismiss him. Mr Burley appealed but the original decision was upheld.
He was dismissed for gross misconduct with immediate effect and without notice or pay.
Mr Burley said: “I just want to know why no one came to me and said that what I was doing was wrong.”
“I was only on a part-time contract but any time they needed me to cover someone’s shift I would always help.”
“I had finally found a job I loved, and getting to have banter with the customers. I was brought up properly, I don’t steal or lie.”
Southern Co-op said: “After a thorough investigation, we reluctantly had to dismiss an employee for deliberate abuse of his staff discount card.”
It said the policy on use “is communicated clearly when signing up” and “a serious breach can be taken as an act of gross misconduct which can lead to dismissal.”
