A south London insurance firm confirmed yesterday it had disciplined a junior actuary after his part-time franchise activities triggered complaints from colleagues. ‘We had no moral issue with Mr Thompson's mail-order bride business - God knows some of our lot won't find a mate any other way" said a spokesman. "But we did object when he started leaving samples in the kitchens.’
The row started last month when office workers noticed a clutch of middle-aged Ukranian women in the first floor break-out area, nestling between the Book People display and the charity keyrings. ‘I couldn't believe it at first" said a salesman. ‘I was trying to put the kettle on when three women jumped in front of me shouting "you like I make tea good". And they were right. Natalya in particular makes a great brew’.
Despite objections from female staff the company initially found no breach of health and safety rules – “provided samples weren’t left dangling over worktops or high shelves”. However, management felt compelled to act when a fight broke out between the Filipinos and the Thais over access to the exclusive fifth floor lunch space “where rich man eat sandwich”. The final straw came last Friday when Mr Thompson failed to take his stock home for the weekend, and he was summoned to see his director on Monday morning.
Mr Thompson remained unrepentant. ‘These girls just want a better life,’ he said, ‘and anyway the Chief exec was jealous because that blonde girl chose his deputy instead. Still, there’s always my pet crocodile catalogue to fall back on.’