Employment law cases in the news – 19.01.2015 to 25.01.2015

In the latest of our series of posts on employment law stories in the news, we take a look at ten employment law cases that have made headlines between 19 January and 25 January 2015

1. Businessman fined for asbestos failure in Colwyn Bay – A businessman allowed the spread of asbestos in an industrial building by not employing licensed contractors to remove the potentially deadly material, a court has heard (HSE)
2. Ex-Punch employee loses unfair dismissal claim – A former employee of Punch Taverns has lost a tribunal case, in which he had accused the pub company of unfair dismissal and detriment following whistle blowing (The Mornington Advertiser)
3. Home bursar’s employment tribunal claims dismissed – An Employment Tribunal has rejected a number of complaints made by former home bursar Jean Wright, who sued St Peter’s College for unfair dismissal, public interest disclosure, and disability discrimination (Cherwell)
4. Christian nurse, 37, says she was sacked for ‘harassment and bullying’ after praying for a Muslim colleague – A Christian health worker has accused the NHS of making her look like a ‘religious nutcase’ after she was branded a bully for praying for a Muslim colleague. Victoria Wasteney, 37, was disciplined for alleged bullying and harassment after Enya Nawaz, 25, told managers that the senior occupational health therapist had tried to convert her to Christianity (The Mail Online)
5. Security guard at direct provision centre awarded €6,500 for race discrimination – A security guard who was working at Athlone direct provision centre has been awarded €6,500 by the Employment Equality Tribunal on the grounds of racial discrimination. The dispute concerns a complaint by Laimonas Maciukas, who is Lithuanian, against G45 Security Solutions that he was discriminated against regarding access to employment on the grounds of race (Yahoo News)
6. Rape crisis centre closes after staff were bullied and intimidated – A rape crisis centre where a board member threatened and intimidated staff has closed down after being ordered to pay out almost £20,000 at an employment tribunal. Central Scotland Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Centre in Stirling is understood to be in the process of entering liquidation after failing to take action over the treatment of its staff (Herald Scotland)
7. Former Port Vale worker wins sexual harassment case against club – Bridal shop owner Joanne Clay was sacked by Port Vale for an alleged affair with the club’s star striker – while the player went unpunished. Now the 33-year-old is set for a payout from the League One side after an employment tribunal ruled she had been the victim of both sexual discrimination and sexual harassment (The Stoke Sentinel)
8. Dismissed nursing home pair get €40,000 – A nursing home has been ordered to pay two women a total of more than €40,000 after dismissing them from their jobs when it was discovered they had convictions (The Irish Herald)
9. Staffordshire University whistleblower accuses sports centre staff of fraud and corruption – A whistleblower who accused university sports centre staff of corruption and fraud has won legal claims against her former employers. Sports manager Fiona Roberts accused Staffordshire University staff of a string of wrongdoings costing thousands of pounds (The Birmingham Mail)
10. Firm in court after worker loses arm – A Powys firm has been fined for serious safety failings after a woodworker had his right arm severed while clearing sawdust from underneath a circular saw. Brian Morris, 59, from Llanbadarn Fynnyd, was working at Stagecraft Display Ltd’s factory just outside Llandrindod Wells when the incident happened on 23 February 2012 (HSE)