Employment law stories in the news – 24.07.2017 to 30.07.2017
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 headlines between 24 July and 30 July 2017
- Employment tribunal fees unlawful, Supreme Court rules – Fees for those bringing employment tribunal claims have been ruled unlawful, and the government will now have to repay up to £32m to claimants (BBC)
- £1m fine for Crossrail contractor following three incidents – A joint venture comprising of three companies established to support the Crossrail tunnel construction has been fined a total of more than £1m following three separate incidents on the project, including the death of a worker (HSE)
- Players made redundant by Bradford Bulls win right to employment tribunal – Around 40 players and staff made redundant as a result of the collapse of Bradford Bulls have been given the go-ahead to take their case for financial redress to a full employment tribunal (Sky Sports)
- Perth College UHI bosses accused of corruption as they lose £34,000 – A damning employment tribunal judgment has questioned the honesty of senior staff at Perth College UHI. Former principal Margaret Munckton and current vice-principal Susan Bald were described by a judge as “poor witnesses” who dodged questions as they attacked the character of former colleague Gerard McIver (The Courier)
- Employment tribunal fees: MPs claim ‘damage is already done’ in open letter to Justice Secretary – More than 70 MPs demand Government recompenses workers who were unable to bring forward workplace tribunal cases due to high fees, which were this week ruled unlawful (The Independent)
- Christian magistrate in gay adoption row set for legal battle with NHS bosses – A Christian magistrate who lost his job and then his role as an NHS director for speaking out against adoption by same-sex parents will this week sue NHS bosses claiming political correctness can prevent Christians holding public posts (The Telegraph)
- Company fined after worker died as a result of a wall collapse – A North East based company Mike Neesam & Son Limited has been fined after a wall collapse which led to the death of 43-year old Steven Ratcliffe (HSE)
- Uber and Deliveroo chiefs face new grilling by MPs – Uber, Deliveroo and other representatives of the “gig economy” face fresh inquiries by British MPs, which will involve their senior executives being grilled by a parliamentary committee over the companies’ working conditions (The Guardian)
- Black judge in Lutfur Rahman case sues for race discrimination – A black judge is suing the lord chief justice and a former lord chancellor for race discrimination in a landmark employment tribunal case. Peter Herbert, a crown court recorder, claims to be the first judge to sue leading fellow judges by name (The Times)
- SAS soldier says he faced anti-gay discrimination – An SAS soldier claims underlying prejudice against gay personnel is hampering their pro motion – despite a senior general saying he wants to spearhead sexual equality (The Telegraph)