Employment law stories in the news – 29.09.2014 to 05.10.2014

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 29 September and 5 October 2014

1. NHS whistleblower accuses health trust bosses of bullying – A NHS whistleblower at England’s biggest mental health trust told an employment tribunal how she was targeted by bosses after raising concerns of a culture of poor practice. Psychologist Dr Hayley Dare allegedly received a threatening letter warning her “you cannot beat us” (BBC)
2. Police Scotland reverse ban on colour-blind officers – Police Scotland has reversed its blanket ban on recruiting colour-blind officers. It comes after an aspiring police officer, who was rejected from the force, mounted a legal bid to have the decision overturned (Press and Journal)
3. Deutsche Bank Manager Sues Over Firing for Sexual Remarks – A Deutsche Bank AG (DBK) executive, fired over allegations he sexually harassed female colleagues, said in a lawsuit that he was the one who suffered discrimination. Konrad Joy, the chief operating officer in the global risk department before being fired in 2013, told a London employment tribunal that the bank accepted accusations against him that were false or exaggerated without a proper investigation (Bloomberg)
4. Reserve forces personnel gain day one right to claim unfair dismissal – The government is introducing new provisions to enhance the rights of those serving in the reserve forces. From 1 October 2014, employees who allege their dismissal was connected with their membership of a reserve force such as the army reserve (formerly known as the territorial army) will not need to have the usual two-year qualifying period required to claim unfair dismissal (CIPD)
5. Rolls Royce fined for loss of radioactive source – Rolls Royce Marine Power Operations Ltd has been fined £200,000 and ordered to pay costs of £176,500 following the loss of a radioactive source at its plant in Derby. The company, a subsidiary of Rolls Royce plc, which manufactures components for nuclear submarines, uses radioactive sources (containing Ytterbium -169) in their industrial radiography work to test that welds are perfect (HSE)
6. Former Pannone partner brings discrimination claim against firm – Several Slater & Gordon partners, including legacy Pannone managing partner Emma Holt, have been named as respondents in a two-week unfair dismissal hearing that is due to begin on 20 October at Manchester Employment Tribunal (The Lawyer)
7. Unison given go-ahead for new judicial review into employment tribunal fees – The Lord Chancellor has given Unison the green light to launch a judicial review into the lawfulness of employment tribunal fees, following a hearing at the Court of Appeal yesterday. Ministry of Justice statistics released since the introduction of fees in July 2013 have consistently shown a dramatic reduction in claims being brought to employment tribunal (Personnel Today)
8. Treasury ordered to pay £142,000 to ‘whistleblower’ former civil servant – The Treasury has been ordered to pay £142,000 to a former senior civil servant after refusing to carry out a previous tribunal’s ruling that he should be found another job (The Guardian)
9. Labour to scrap the employment tribunal system? – Labour’s shadow business secretary, Chuka Umunna, has told the TUC Congress that the next Labour government will scrap the employment tribunal system and replace it with a ‘fairer system to ensure that affordability is not a barrier to employees seeking redress in the workplace’ (The Lawyer)
10. NHS Trust fined after patient paralysed – Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has been fined for safety failings after a vulnerable mental health patient was left paralysed after diving off a roof. The 26-year-old man, who had a history of self-harm, had been detained under the Mental Health Act at Ward 12 of Boston Pilgrim Hospital, where the Trust provides acute care for the mentally ill (HSE)