Employment law stories in the news – 18.05.2015 to 24.05.2015

redmans-blog-newsIn the latest of our series of posts on employment law stories in the news this week, we take a look at ten employment law stories that have made headlines between 18 May and 24 May 2015

  1. Business man jailed after Lithuanian worker killed after fall from roof at Blackburn mill – A business man in charge of converting an old mill has been jailed, and his father, the owner of the building, given a suspended jail sentence following an incident in which a Lithuanian worker died in a fall (HSE)
  2. Sergeant sues police force for sex bias after she was ‘left feeling suicidal having been refused childcare help’ – A former Scotland Yard sergeant is suing Essex Police for sex discrimination for “refusing” to accommodate her childcare needs. Sarah Jay, 41, claims she was left with no option but to resign as an Essex sergeant after transferring to the force because it did not allow more flexible shifts to care for her young daughter (Evening Standard)
  3. Army must ‘speak out’ against harassment, says brigadier – The armed forces must “redouble” their efforts to stop sexual harassment, the Army’s former most senior female officer Brigadier Nicky Moffat says. She told the BBC that leaders at all levels must “make clear that this sort of behaviour is unacceptable” (BBC)
  4. Majority of whistleblowers left without legal representation – The majority of whistleblowers are not represented by a lawyer and those without legal representation are ‘significantly’ less likely to be successful in their claim, new research has shown. Analysis of 2,969 employment tribunal judgements between 2011-2013 by whistleblowing charity Public Concern at Work (PCaW) shows only 44% claimants in whistleblowing cases had legal representation (The Law Society Gazette)
  5. Probe into ‘asbestos exposure’ at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital – The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) says it is investigating whether workmen were exposed to asbestos at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. Former hospital project manager, Les Small, told senior bosses in 2012 he believed asbestos panels had been damaged during construction work (BBC)
  6. Ex-partner, 53, to allege age discrimination against former firm – A 53-year-old solicitor will next week start proceedings against his former firm for alleged age discrimination. Tracy Fennell, who left the Bristol office of top-100 firm Foot Anstey last July, will argue that he was dismissed from the partnership on account of his age. The firm denies the allegation (The Law Society Gazette)
  7. Michael Barrymore’s gay police officer pal was discriminated against by colleagues because of his sexuality – A gay police officer was taunted by colleagues and subjected to discrimination, harassment and victimisation while working for the Metropolitan Police, an employment tribunal has ruled (The Mirror)
  8. Carcraft workers ‘considering taking legal action’ following the collapse of second-hand car supermarket – Staff who lost their jobs after the collapse of used car supermarket Carcraft are considering taking legal action. Solicitors say they have been contacted by a number of former workers, believed to be at least a dozen, over the possibility of mounting a group legal action (The Manchester Evening News)
  9. Former Bulls coach wins wrongful dismissal case – Former Bradford Bulls head coach Francis Cummins has won his case for wrongful dismissal against his old club. The 38-year-old former Leeds and Great Britain winger was in charge of the Bulls from September 2012 to June 2014 when he was sacked by the current administration with the team in danger of relegation from Super League (ITV)
  10. Fertiliser firm fined after worker crushed to death – A fertiliser company was fined £80,000 after one of its employees died when he became trapped in an agriculture spreader whilst carrying out maintenance. Kevin Alderton , 34, was working as a spreader operator for Bunn Fertiliser Limited, based at Updike Road, Seething, Norfolk, when the incident happened in February 2013 (HSE)