IKEA Murcia Fires Employee Over Discount Abuse
The Swedish multinational IKEA has fired an employee from its store in Murcia, Spain, after discovering she used her employee discount to pay for purchases made by her sister. The employee, who had worked at the company for nearly 20 years, appealed the decision, but the Superior Court of Justice (TSJ) of the Region of Murcia has now upheld the dismissal.
Details of the Dismissal
IKEA’s internal regulations explicitly prohibit employees from extending their discount benefits to family or friends, or using the discount for purchases intended for resale. The company discovered seven invoices issued between March 2023 and June 2024 with the tax information of the employee’s sister. These purchases totaled €880, but only €151 was paid due to the employee discount.
Investigation and Company Response
Following an internal investigation and a report prepared in July 2024, IKEA notified the employee of her dismissal by letter two days later. The letter stated that the company provides employees with a discount of up to 15% on purchases for personal use and at their primary residence, but transferring this benefit to third parties is prohibited. El Periódico reports that IKEA considered this a “very serious lack of work.”
Allegations of Abuse and Disobedience
IKEA accused the employee of engaging in a commercial operation for personal gain, causing economic harm to the company. The company further alleged serious and culpable disobedience to company procedures, abuse of trust, fraudulent behavior, violation of contractual fine faith, and a breach of basic labor obligations. Killbait details that the employee defended her actions, claiming she made the purchases herself with her own bank card, but both the Social Court of Murcia and the TSJ ruled in favor of IKEA.
Judicial Ruling
Both the Juzgado de lo Social (Social Court) and the Tribunal Superior de Justicia (TSJ) of Murcia confirmed the dismissal was justified, meaning the employee is not entitled to severance pay or continued salary. El Periódico reported the rulings.
IKEA Murcia Information
The IKEA Murcia store offers various services including home delivery, click & collect, and financing options. IKEA Spain provides information on store hours and other details.