Employee in Chile received a salary 330 times higher: court allowed him to keep it.

Office worker accidentally paid 330 times more salary

According to The Sun: An office worker was accidentally rewarded with a sum 330 times greater than what he was used to receiving, but he managed to keep this money after his dismissal.

The man worked as an assistant at the food company Dan Consorcio Industrial de Alimentos de Chile, earning about 500,000 pesos (approximately £386) per month.

One day he received a large sum — 165 million pesos (approximately £127,000), as his manager mistakenly transferred these funds to his account. Initially, the company claimed that the man agreed to return the money during a consultation with HR, but three days later he submitted his resignation.

The management decided to defend its interests, leading to a three-year legal battle. The managers accused him of theft, which could lead to a fine and up to 540 days in prison.

However, a judge in Santiago ruled that this was not theft, but merely an “unauthorized collection,” so criminal proceedings will not commence.

The company is still trying to recover its money. “We will take all possible legal

steps

Justice in the case of dismissal for insult

This happened after the manager's words “fool” were not recognized as sufficient grounds for dismissal in a labor tribunal.

The tribunal noted that such an insult is not a gross violation if expressed 'in a fit of emotion.' This was the result of a case where office manager Kerry Herbert expressed her outrage during a meeting in 2022, fearing that she might be fired from the construction company Main Group Services.

When critical remarks were made during the discussion of her work, she began to cry and said: “If it were anyone else, they would have left this company long ago, but only because of you two fools, I stayed.”

In response, the boss said: “Don't call me, damn it, a fool or my wife. That's it, you're fired. Pack your things and leave.”

Kerry asked if this decision was final, to which her manager replied: “Yes, I fired you, now go.”

The contract for Herbert stated that she could be fired for offensive remarks, but only with warning. She filed a lawsuit for unfair dismissal and received compensation of £29,129.

This story demonstrates how accidental mistakes in finance can lead to serious legal consequences. Also, Herbert’s case shows that not all insults at work are grounds for dismissal, highlighting the importance of emotional context in making such decisions. In both situations, we see how crucial it is to adhere to legal frameworks and ethics in labor relations.