Employment tribunal stories in the news this week – 16.12.2013 to 22.12.2013

In the latest of our series of posts on employment tribunal cases in the news this week, we take a look a number of employment tribunal-related cases that have made the headlines between 16.12.2013 and 22.12.2013

Orangeman ‘disappointed’ over dismissal of discrimination case – A member of the Orange Order did not suffer discrimination within the Civil Service on the grounds of his religion, an industrial tribunal has found. Bradley Martin had claimed he was treated less favourably and suffered harassment at the Department of Social Development (DSD) when it became known he was an Orangeman (The Newsletter)
Witch woe spells trouble for Hemel Hempstead store – A family-run business is fighting for survival against a court ruling which said it had discriminated against a modern-day witch. The Londis shop in Shenley Road, Hemel Hempstead, owned by Tarlock Singh, 36, and managed by his brother Gurnam, 26, has been challenged in an employment tribunal by former worker Karen Holland (Hemel Today)
Sacked Doncaster rail workers in tribunal win – Rail union RMT has recorded an important milestone victory on behalf of more than 300 Doncaster workers sacked after the collapse of rail infra-structure company Jarvis, formally headed up by top Tory Steven Norris (The Star)
East Lancashire NHS worker in unfair sacking victory – A hospital technician who took sick leave while dealing with the breakdown of her marriage to a ‘violent alcoholic’ was sacked just a fortnight after her return to work. An employment tribunal was told that Karen Marsha, a senior pharmacy technician at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, had been told she could undertake a ‘phased’ return to her duties (The Lancashire Telegraph)
LSE chef’s ‘gollywog’ jam reference in front of black colleague held to be harassment – A chef’s use of the word ‘gollywog’ when referring to a jam jar label in the presence of a black colleague has been found to constitute harassment. Mark McAleese was working as a manager in the London School of Economics’ kitchens when he spoke the banned word as Denise Lindsay stood behind him (The Evening Standard)
Dundee City Council’s dismissal of cashier was fair, rules tribunal – A judge has ruled that the city council was right to sack a cashier supervisor after two disciplinary breaches. Mrs Susan Rooney had been given a final written warning after ignoring an order not to process a £10,000 debit card payment by a member of the public because a manager was worried about possible money laundering (The Courier)
Penkridge mental health official’s legal claim for unfair dismissal and disability discrimination – A Penkridge mental health official suffering with rheumatic arthritis whose work involved helping disabled people find jobs, found himself in a similar position after being dismissed. Keith Payne of New Road, Penkridge who used to be a scuba diver in Malta, had been employed by the Black Country Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (The Staffordshire Newsletter)
Council worker unfairly dismissed following ear-flicking claims – A judge has ruled a Swindon Council anti-social behaviour team member was unfairly dismissed following complaints he flicked a colleague’s ears. Ian Napier was dismissed following a complaint by Debbie Chadwick-Edgar, who reported that she had been ‘assaulted’ by the former police officer (This is Wiltshire)
Ex-Liverpool FC chauffeur claiming he was hounded out of job has case dismissed by tribunal – A former Liverpool FC chauffeur who claimed he was hounded out of his job after he made allegations of serious malpractice at the club has had his case dismissed after an employment tribunal hearing (The Liverpool Echo)
Transsexual PC’s case against Essex Police rejected – An employment tribunal has rejected claims of harassment and discrimination by a transsexual police officer, the BBC has learned. PC Emma Chapman complained she had to “out” herself over a police radio system when working for Essex Police (BBC)