Employment law stories in the news – 13.02.2017 to 19.02.2017

In the latest of our series of posts on employment law stories in the news, we take a look at eight employment law stories that made headlines between 13 February and 19 February 2017

  1. Sexism and harassment at work creating a ‘mental health timebomb’ for women – New research has revealed shocking levels of sexism and harassment in Scotland’s public sector workplaces. Nearly two-thirds of employees surveyed by violence against women charity Zero Tolerance said that they had suffered or witnessed sexual harassment or innuendo at work (Herald Scotland)
  2. London based firm fined after workers death – Bus company Go Ahead London has been sentenced after worker was killed when he fell from a ladder. Southwark Crown Court heard on 26 May 2011 the worker was using a ladder to access the top of a fuel tank when he fell two and a half meters backwards, suffering fatal head injuries (HSE)
  3. Two cleaners blast £20million Manchester United ace Phil Jones as ‘skinflint’ after he sacks them right before Christmas in row over £300 bill – Two married cleaners have branded millionaire Manchester United star Phil Jones a skinflint — after he sacked them over a £300 bill. Angela and Nigel Stubbs, both 51, say they asked for the cash to cover petrol costs (The Sun)
  4. Call to end workplace disability discrimination by employers – Too many people with disabilities are being prevented from working because employers are unwilling to make reasonable adjustments, a charity has said (BBC)
  5. Employer prosecuted after employee falls from roof – A self-employed businessman has been prosecuted after his employee fell from the flat roof of a building and died from his injuries. Manchester Crown Court heard how, on 22 December 2013, father of two, Jason Fogarty, a casual employee of Roy Hardaker (trading as 9 to 5 Roofing), was working on a flat roof replacement project. He was working alongside Hardaker (HSE)
  6. Sailors sunk by porn ban: Royal Navy bans all X-rated material – Royal Navy sailors have been banned from viewing porn. X-rated films and pictures have been outlawed on warships, submarines and at shore bases. It follows a review by top brass into the availability of “sexually explicit magazines and pornographic films” on board vessels (The Daily Star)
  7. Firefighters lose pension age discrimination case – Firefighters have lost their claim that the introduction of the 2015 Firefighters’ Pension Scheme was discriminatory. The first-instance decision was delivered by an employment tribunal on 14 February 2017 (Personnel Today)
  8. Former F1 doctor who turned whistleblower sacked by NHS hospital bosses – A former F1 doctor who turned whistleblower was sacked by NHS hospital bosses. Consultant neurosurgeon James Akinwunmi says after he made complaints on other doctors bosses closed ranks and forced him out (The Mirror)