Employment law stories in the news – 30.06.2014 to 06.07.2014

MoJIn the latest of our series of posts on employment law series in the news this week, we take a look at ten employment law stories that have made the news between 30 June and 6 July 2014.

  1. Construction blacklist compensation scheme opens – Eight construction firms have announced the launch of a scheme aimed at compensating workers who were victims of past blacklisting in the industry. Under the scheme, workers on the list would be paid £4,000 on a fast-track basis rising to £20,000 if they can prove discrimination. In more serious cases, up to £100,000 could be awarded (BBC)
  2. Southampton Solent University settles over pay dispute – Southampton Solent University has settled out of court with a part-time lecturer who brought an employment tribunal case claiming that he was paid a lower rate of pay than full-time colleagues in comparable roles. Jon Sanders, a film-maker and associate lecturer at the institution, said he suffered less favourable treatment as a consequence of his part-time status at the institution (The Times Higher Education Supplement)
  3. Met Police ‘deleted discrimination findings’ – The Met Police told staff to delete records on sex and race discrimination against one of its employees, an employment tribunal has found. Firearms officer Carol Howard, 35, was “singled out and targeted” for nearly a year, a panel ruled (BBC)
  4. Nestlé agrees to pay all employees living wage – Food giant Nestlé has become the first leading manufacturer to commit to paying the living wage. The firm already pays at least the living wage to its 8,000 staff but the move will benefit contract employees and agency workers. About 800 contractors working with Nestlé will implement it by December 2017 (The Guardian)
  5. Care home firm wrong to sack worker who allowed colleague to fall asleep on night shift – A Crieff care home worker who allowed a colleague to doze off on night shift was unfairly dismissed, an employment tribunal has ruled. It decided management staff of Ashdene Court in Ferntower Road were wrong to have regarded Ewa Horakova’s misconduct as “gross” (The Courier)
  6. Flexible working extended to all employees in UK – Millions of employees will have the right to request flexible working from Monday under new measures the government believes will particularly benefit older people. The right has only been available for carers, or people who look after children, but is being extended to all employees (The Guardian)
  7. Receptionist ‘was hit and called black slave and dog by Qatari Embassy official’ – A British receptionist was allegedly called a “black slave” and hit by a senior official at the Qatari Embassy in London in a sustained campaign of racial bullying. Mohamoud Ahmed, 73, was employed at the gas-rich Gulf state’s embassy in Mayfair for almost 20 years and also acted as a security guard (The Evening Standard)
  8. Ministers order inquiry into NHS whistleblowing – An independent inquiry has been ordered into the treatment of whistleblowers by the NHS amid fears from the head of the Mid Staffs inquiry that the ‘culture of fear’ is worse than was thought (The Telegraph)
  9. ‘Dedicated’ nurse wins payout after receiving threats for blowing whistle – A “dedicated and hardworking” nurse who blew the whistle about patient safety has won more than £80,000 in compensation after she was unfairly targeted for speaking out by her former employer (The Nursing Times)
  10. Health board rejects nurse welfare tribunal claim – A health board has rejected claims by a former nurse that it failed to adjust to her mental health issues, an employment tribunal has heard. Glenda Rodriquez-Noza, 42, is claiming unfair dismissal from the Princess of Wales Hospital on the grounds of disability discrimination (BBC)