A SACKED engineering worker who admitted falling asleep on the job, arriving late and refusing to carry out instructions from her boss told a judge yesterday: 'I have been a very responsible employee.' Hui Shuk-kau, 31, said: 'I have reasons to justify what I have done. Every ordinary employee would be perhaps doing the same.' Ms Hui said she was unfairly dismissed by engineering consultants J. Roger Preston and Partners Ltd. She told the judge they had exaggerated allegations against her.
'They just highlighted these shortcomings and started to criticise me, making a big fuss,' she said.
'As far as the comments about my performance are concerned, I entirely disagree. I have always been a very responsible employee.' The former assistant engineer, fired on January 14 after receiving warning letters, won her bid at the High Court for her case to be re-opened. It was referred again to the Labour Tribunal.
She said she had previously been persuaded to abandon her claims by the tribunal's presiding officer. Ms Hui said he had been biased against her and told her at an early stage she had no chance of winning.
Mr Justice Ryan said Ms Hui should not be deprived of an opportunity to present her case.
Ms Hui told the judge she had only fallen asleep at work 'momentarily' because she was tired. She had always tried to arrive on time.
