Employment law stories in the news – 19.01.2015 to 25.01.2015

redmans-blog-newsIn the latest if our series of posts on employment law stories in the news, we take a look at ten employment law stories that have made the news between 19 January and 25 January 2015.

  1. Camden Council criticised after spending £3.25m on ‘gagging’ redundant staff – Since 2009, some 392 staff leaving the cash-strapped council were paid an average of £8,000 to sign compromise agreements, all of which contain confidentiality clauses. Most receiving the payments were staff made redundant by the council (Ham High)
  2. County payout despite ruling in sex bias case – West Sussex County Council has been cleared of a claim of sexual discrimination – but still faces paying out compensation to a former senior manager. Former finance chief Francis Austin sued for sex discrimination, claiming he had been effectively forced out of his Chichester-based role following a complaint against him (Chichester Observer)
  3. 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)
  4. Worker’s injuries land brewery in court – A Herefordshire brewery has been fined for safety failings after a worker suffered a broken foot when it became trapped in a rotating stirrer (HSE)
  5. 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)
  6. 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)
  7. Paul Jewell quit West Brom after one week over demand he take pay cut to accommodate Gerry Francis – Paul Jewell walked out of West Bromwich Albion after only a week in the job after being asked to accept a pay-cut that in turn would cover the salary of another new coach; Gerry Francis. In consultation with his legal team the former Wigan, Ipswich and Derby manager is now understood to be considering a case of constructive dismissal (The Mail Online)
  8. Shoe retailer Office warned on data breach – The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has warned High Street and online shoe retailer Office to clean up its act after a data breach exposed more than one million customer details. The breach in May left the personal data of customers exposed, although no financial information was compromised (BBC)
  9. 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)
  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)