SPS Technologies Ltd v Chughtai - Tribunal substituted own view on credibility of dismissed employee [2012] EAT

When determining whether a misconduct dismissal was unfair, an employment tribunal must not substitute its own view of the employee's credibility for that of the employer.

SPS specialises in the manufacture of fasteners for the aerospace industry. It is a safety critical industry where the failure of a product could result in a catastrophic failure and loss of life. Mr Chughtai worked as a laboratory controller whose principal task was to ensure that the results of various tests conducted on a variety of aircraft parts had been manufactured to the appropriate standard.