Employment law stories in the news – 30.03.2015 to 05.04.2015

redmans-blog-newsIn 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 30 March and 5 April 2015

  1. Workplace turban law amended – A new employment law that enables Sikhs to wear turbans in all workplaces has come into force across the UK. It follows a decade-long campaign by Sikh groups to address a loophole in the law, which led to turban-wearers facing discrimination in the workplace (BBC)
  2. Zero-hours workers would get regular contracts after 12 weeks, says Miliband – Workers on zero-hours contracts will have the right to regular employment after 12 weeks, according to plans to be set out by Ed Miliband today (Politics Home)
  3. UNISON granted permission to appeal against ‘punitive’ employment tribunal fees – UNISON has been granted permission by the Court of Appeal to proceed with appeals against the decisions of the High Court refusing its two Judicial Review applications challenging the lawfulness of employment tribunal fees (UNISON)
  4. Employment tribunal fees ‘deterring claims’ – The introduction of fees for employment tribunals has stopped thousands of Scots from challenging rogue employers, according to a charity. The Citizens Advice Bureau in Scotland said fees had “altered the balance of power” between workers and employers since they were introduced in 2013 (BBC)
  5. Black officer launches furious tirade at U-turn bosses who have vowed to appeal a damning race tribunal verdict – A black police officer has slammed his bosses as ‘immoral’ after they vowed to challenge an employment tribunal which ruled he had been the victim of race discrimination (The Manchester Evening News)
  6. Firm fined after worker burned in flash fire – A Moray-based firm has been fined for safety failings after a worker was seriously injured in a flash fire. Ravenhill Limited employee Norman Thomson, then 49, from Rothienorman, Aberdeenshire, was caught in a flashover as he opened the door to a shed which housed a pressure washer after spotting smoke seeping out from the edge (HSE)
  7. Labour ‘will scrap fees for employment tribunals’ – Labour will abolish fees for taking cases to an employment tribunal if it wins the General Election. There was a slump in the number of claims after feeds came into effect in 2013 (ITV)
  8. Christian NHS worker appeals ruling she ‘bullied’ Muslim colleague by praying for her – A Christian health worker who was found to have bullied and harassed a junior Muslim colleague when she prayed for her has launched an appeal, saying the ruling breached her human rights (The Telegraph)
  9. Company fined after worker’s ladder fall – A Birmingham shopfitting firm has been prosecuted for safety failings after a worker broke eight ribs in a ladder fall. Birmingham Magistrates’ Court heard that wood machinist Alan Sweet was working at A Edmonds and Co Ltd’s factory in Constitution Hill when the incident happened on 29 August 2014 (HSE)
  10. Retired teacher who was exposed to asbestos received £210,000 after mesothelioma diagnosis – A retired teacher who spent 11 years working in classrooms containing asbestos secured a personal injury claim for £210,000 after she was diagnosed with mesothelioma, the NASUWT union has revealed (Schools Week)