Employment cases in the news – 13.10.2014 to 19.10.2014

In the latest of our series of posts on employment cases in the news, we examine ten employment cases that have made the news between 13 October and 19 October 2014.

Fringe director wins appeal in minimum wage dispute – A director ordered by a tribunal to pay four actors the minimum wage for their performances in a profit share production has won an appeal against the decision. The Employment Appeal Tribunal has ruled that the original tribunal’s decision that the actors hired by director and producer Gavin McAlinden were “workers” and therefore entitled to the minimum wage had failed to apply the correct legal test (The Stage)
Tribunal rejects unfair dismissal claim – A chronic asthmatic who alleged discrimination against her housing association employer has lost her claim for unfair dismissal (Inside Housing)
Former chef at top restaurant receives £30,000 payout in pay wrangle – A chef at a top Tyneside restaurant has been handed a £30,000 pay out over a salary wrangle. Steve Jobson rose through the ranks to become head chef taking home a pay packet of £45,000 (The Chronicle Live)
Perth and Kinross Council could face big payout after cancer sufferer’s dismissal – Perth and Kinross Council could be facing a six-figure bill after giving up its challenge against a cancer-suffering solicitor they unfairly dismissed. The local authority has agreed to pay a sum understood to be in the region of £75,000 to Valerie Gauld of Birkhill in advance of a two-day employment tribunal settlement hearing due to start in Dundee (The Courier)
Panel that chose to dismiss former Malvern town clerk ‘a kangaroo court’, tribunal hears – A panel that chose to dismiss the former clerk of Malvern Town Council was labelled “a kangaroo court” at an employment tribunal today (October 14). Richard Chapman was sacked by a second-tier appeal panel in April, despite an initial disciplinary hearing deeming allegations of bullying and harassment worthy of just a first written warning (The Malvern Gazette)
High-flying banker nicknamed ‘Crazy Miss Cokehead’ by bullying male colleagues claiming compensation of £14million after winning employment tribunal – A high-flying banker nicknamed ‘Crazy Miss Cokehead’ during a smear campaign by her bullying male colleagues is claiming compensation of £14 million after she won her employment tribunal. Cambridge graduate Svetlana Lokhova, who worked in the London office of Russian firm Sberbank, said she was victimised before being unfairly dismissed (The Mail Online)
Theatre critic Mark Shenton loses sex discrimination case against Desmond’s Express – A leading theatre critic who claimed that he was unfairly dismissed and discriminated against on the grounds of sexual orientation by Express Newspapers has lost his case. Mark Shenton, former theatre critic for the Sunday Express, claimed that he was sacked after nude pictures of him on a gay website were sent to his employers in an act of “revenge porn” (The Independent)
Redundant staff win payout battle – A group of former workers at a flooring retailer have been awarded payouts totalling almost £160,000 following a lengthy battle over unpaid redundancy cash. The 12 former Behar Carpets employees, who were made redundant without warning in April this year, were forced to take their case to an employment tribunal after the firm refused to pay out (Herald Scotland)
Council worker wins payout after he was unfairly sacked for giving out tomato plants – A former council clerk has won a compensation payout after he was unfairly sacked from his job – for giving colleagues tomato plants. Richard Chapman was dismissed by Malvern Town Council in April this year after it was claimed the fruity gifts showed favouritism towards some members of staff (The Mail Online)
Binman who is unable to read safety warnings wins pay-out – Stephen McEwan successfully sued bosses at Biffa Waste Management for disability discrimination and unfair dismissal after they failed to take account of his dyslexia. The 28-year-old, of Cambuslang, South Lanarkshire, was dismissed after being involved in an accident at work that has left him severely injured (Herald Scotland)