Employment law stories in the news – 26.01.2015 to 01.02.2015

In the latest of 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 26 January and 1 February 2015

1. Council to face tribunal over ‘whistleblowing’ claim – A council is being taken to an employment tribunal by a former senior finance officer claiming she was constructively dismissed after raising concerns over a large outsourcing contract covering ICT and other services (Public Technology)
2. 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)
3. MoD faces tribunal challenge from whistleblower doctor sacked by text – An experienced doctor, who has questioned the official explanation for the death of weapons expert David Kelly, was dismissed by text and email while on a family holiday after he blew the whistle about alleged discrepancies in the dispensing of strong painkillers at an army base (The Guardian)
4. Umpires claim unfair dismissal at employment tribunal – Cricket umpires are used to having their decisions challenged, but two English Test match umpires are preparing to do the same to their former employers as they claim unfair dismissal and age discrimination at the hands of the England and Wales Cricket Board (The Sunday Times)
5. Tribunal non-payments ‘a scandal’, says minister – A government minister has said it is ‘scandalous’ that so few employment tribunal awards are paid promptly by employers. Business minister Baroness Neville-Rolfe said new measures to punish those who pay late will be an effective way of forcing rogue employers to comply (The Law Society Gazette)
6. Gardening firm in court over employee’s burns – A Chester-based gardening company has been fined after an employee suffered burns while lighting a pile of giant hogweed. Greenstripe Ltd was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after an investigation found the employee had been given petrol to burn the waste vegetation (HSE)
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. Preston solar panel firm sentenced over roof fall death – A Preston-based company, which installs solar panels, has been fined £45,000 following the death of a worker who fell through a barn roof (HSE)
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. Health secretary Jeremy Hunt urged to launch inquiry as tribunal rejects Croydon Health Services NHS Trust’s appeal over unfair sacking of whisteblower Kevin Beatt – Health secretary Jeremy Hunt has been urged to launch an independent inquiry into Croydon University Hospital over its treatment of a whisteblower doctor (The Croydon Guardian)