Indian-origin man claims sacked for a peck on wife's cheek

London, Oct 21: A 37-year-old Indian-origin call centre worker in the United Kingdom has been sacked from his job for "inappropriate behaviour" after he gave a friendly peck on the cheek of his wife, a co-worker in the company.

Martin Singh said he was given a warning of "inappropriate behaviour" by the company when he made the friendly gesture towards wife Ruby as she arrived at work and was later dismissed.

"I'm sitting at the desk and she comes in. I give her a peck on the cheek, so we're both touching cheeks," he said. Singh claims his wife was then told to move away from him.

"I was like, that's a bit heavy. I don't like my wife being spoken to like that in front of others. Especially when we're on the phone and customers can hear you," he told the Bristol Post.

The couple had been working in the telesales marketing division of a firm in Bristol, south-west England. Singh said he took up the position with the hope of moving up the ranks and supporting his wife as she got into work for the first time.

"It's a big company and I thought we can move around and move up the ladder. Working together we were really happy – taking in packed lunches together, sitting together at lunchtime, car sharing. She was really happy," he said.

"If I'm kissing my wife, that's my wife of 17 years, not a stranger. It's someone that I will live and die with, so what's wrong with that?"

The company said that they were investigating the allegations made by Singh. A spokesperson said: "It would not be appropriate to make any further comment at this time."

PTI