Day 214 - 01 02 96 - Page 42

 
 

                                                                  DAY 214
 
                                           DAVID ROBERTS, Cross-examined:
 
 
 
     1        understaffed, was it not?
     2        A.  It needed more staff, yes.
     3
     4   Q.   Right.
     5        A.  The reason that not all of the people are terminated
     6        straightaway is when I take over a restaurant I cannot sack
     7        everybody without talking to them.  So, hence, people will
     8        stay on there until they have been contacted.
     9
    10   Q.   Can I ask you to explain something while we have these
    11        open?  After the employee number, there is "CD" and do you
    12        know what that is?
    13        A.  Check digit.
    14
    15   Q.   Do the numbers have any significance?
    16        A.  No, well, they do to the person.  It is for the payroll
    17        department's uses.  It is just like a story number.  It is
    18        a computer number that they use.  It is not actually part
    19        of their payroll number.  It is just something that is --
    20        it is an extra digit they need ---
    21
    22   Q.   Right.
    23        A.  -- for our payroll department.
    24
    25   Q.   It does not designate them as one particular type of worker
    26         ------
    27        A.  It is a random number from 1 to 9 that will aid their
    28        computer system.
    29
    30   Q.   Right.  Is there anything on here that indicates what age
    31        people were?
    32        A.  No, no.
    33
    34   Q.   Just while we are on it, the employee number, generally
    35        there is some more unusual numbers right at the beginning
    36        of the list and then it all goes into 99 and then 994 and
    37        then another number.  How are those numbers given out?
    38        A.  Up until the introduction of the Hunter, the Husky
    39        computer, a new starter, their application form will be
    40        sent off to our Head Office.  They would actually give them
    41        the employee number.  So, obviously, they can do it
    42        according to, if there was, like, 300 stores, they could do
    43        one person in the north of England, they could be one
    44        number, the person in London could be the next number
    45        because they would know exactly who they were.  With the
    46        Husky system, when we actually put a new starter on, we
    47        have designated numbers which will be according to the
    48        Heathrow store.  So, if I put on two people at the same
    49        time, they might be 93341 and 93342, so they are all --
    50        that is why they are all similar. 
    51 
    52   Q.   OK.  So the ones that are --- 
    53        A.  They are -----
    54
    55   Q.   -- not 99 something will predate the Husky system?
    56        A.  Yes, they are longer serving employees.
    57
    58   Q.   Presumably, have been transferred from another store
    59        or  ------
    60        A.  They would have been because the store was opened up
 
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