Husband Must Pay £10,000 After Wife Exposes His Affair on CCTV and Gets Fired

A husband has been ordered to pay nearly £10,000 in compensation to his wife after she caught him having an affair on CCTV and was abruptly fired from their family business. Jacqueline Herling, a mother of two, discovered her husband Stefan’s infidelity with a sous-chef at the Peak District pub they managed together, The Beehive Inn. After confronting Stefan in May 2022, Jacqueline declared during a heated argument that she “would not set foot in the pub again” but continued to live above the premises and perform occasional duties, reported by BBC.

Despite maintaining her £758 monthly salary for four months, Jacqueline was suddenly issued a P45 without prior notice. The Manchester employment tribunal ruled in her favor, awarding her £9,676 for unfair dismissal, unauthorized pay deductions, and victimization.

Jacqueline and Stefan had been together since 2005, married in 2008, and worked side by side at the pub. However, their relationship fell apart after Jacqueline uncovered Stefan’s affair using CCTV footage.

“[Jacqueline] confronted [Stefan] because she had discovered he had been having an affair with the sous-chef,” the tribunal heard, reported by the Mirror. “He initially denied it until [she] explained she had seen CCTV footage. There was a row. The gist of what was said by [Jacqueline] was that she wanted nothing more to do with the pub and that she would not set foot in the pub again.”

Though deeply upset, Jacqueline did not leave the pub or her role entirely, continuing to handle small tasks like chopping logs, mowing the lawn, and shopping for supplies. In July 2022, she initiated divorce proceedings. Acting on advice from the pub’s accountant, Stefan terminated her employment in October but informed her only in November when she asked about missing wages.

The tribunal dismissed Stefan’s claim that Jacqueline had “resigned” through her actions after the affair. Judge Marion Batten stated, “She did not leave or move out and did not cease involvement with the business entirely. Discussions could and should have taken place before terminating her employment.”

Jacqueline’s payout reflects compensation for the lack of proper procedure, with the judge noting Stefan failed to explore alternative arrangements or allow for meaningful discussions before her dismissal. The case has left a lasting impression on the tribunal, highlighting the importance of fair treatment even in the most personal of workplace disputes.