Tailoring Workshop Manager “Steals” Customers for His Own Company

In a controversial case, the Abu Dhabi Family and Civil Administrative Court ordered a tailoring workshop manager to pay the owner a compensation of 100,170 dirhams. This ruling resulted from the manager exploiting his position, with accusations of “stealing” customers for the benefit of a company he secretly owns. Details of this case reveal the illegal practices that occurred within the workshop, where the manager exploited the workshop’s name and relationships, causing significant harm to the owner.

Background of the Case

The story began when the workshop owner filed a lawsuit against the manager, who had been employed by her since 2021. She sought compensation of 150,000 dirhams due to the amounts the manager had misappropriated, including 75,000 dirhams for various damages she suffered. In her lawsuit, she pointed out that the manager had been absent for extended periods, leading to a noticeable decline in revenue.

Methods Used

According to the owner’s claims, the manager used the workshop’s name and phone number to communicate with customers, directing them to another workshop he owned. In this way, he fulfilled their requests for himself, pocketing the amounts they paid without her knowledge. Additionally, the manager misappropriated 75,500 dirhams that were intended for managing the workshop and renewing the workers’ visas. Despite a penal order issued against him, he denied all the accusations leveled against him.

Court Ruling

Despite the manager’s attempts to deny responsibility, the court rejected his plea of lack of jurisdiction, stating that the case concerned compensation for damages resulting from his actions. The court confirmed that the evidence presented supported the assertion that the manager had misappropriated 40,170 dirhams for his own benefit. The court concluded that the manager’s illegal conduct had caused the plaintiff material damages that required compensation.

Case Outcomes

Based on the facts of the case, the court ruled that the manager was liable for dishonesty and ordered him to pay financial compensation. He was ordered to pay 40,170 dirhams, in addition to 60,000 dirhams as compensation for the damages sustained by the owner, along with court costs. This case underscores the importance of protecting the rights of small business owners and the necessity of holding wrongdoers accountable in the workplace.

The case of the tailoring workshop manager “stealing” customers for his own company serves as an example of the negative practices that impact the small business sector, highlighting the need for serious consideration of laws that protect the rights of owners and employees in this field.