Employment law stories in the news – 01.02.2016 to 07.02.2016

redmans-blog-newsIn the latest of our series of posts on employment law cases in the news, we take a look at ten employment law stories that have made the news between 1 February and 7 February 2016

  1. Construction workers denied access to auto-enrolment pensions – An explosion in the number of construction workers moved into “umbrella” companies to avoid them appearing as full-time employees is undermining auto enrolment pensions, say unions (The Guardian)
  2. New National Minimum Wage offenders named and shamed, February 2016 – More than 90 employers who have failed to pay their workers the National Minimum Wage have been named and shamed, Business Minister Nick Boles announced today (5 February 2016). Between them, the 92 companies named owed £1,873,712 in arrears, and cover sectors including hairdressing, social care, hospitality and security services (Gov.uk)
  3. Ministers to look at further curbs on public sector pay-offs – The government is to look at more curbs on public sector redundancy payments as Chancellor George Osborne pledged to “rein in” sums paid to managers. A consultation will look at the case for limiting payoffs to three weeks salary per year of service and reducing the amount people are entitled to when they near retirement (BBC)
  4. Temporary chief constable slams ‘outrageous’ comments that his force is ‘rotten’ – A temporary chief constable has hit back at accusations that serious allegations of racism have made his force “rotten”. Northern Powerhouse Minister James Wharton met with senior figures in Cleveland Police this week to discuss concerns he had about the force’s history of racial discrimination (PoliceProfessional.com)
  5. Worker falls through roof light – A scaffolding company based in Dorset has been fined for safety failings following an incident where an employee fell through a roof light. Weymouth Magistrates’ Court heard how Weller Scaffolding Limited of Dorset had been contracted to erect access scaffold and perimeter handrails around the roof of a small industrial unit at East Road, Bridport (HSE)
  6. Black workers ‘face widening pay gap the more qualifications they earn’ – The pay gap faced by black workers widens the more qualifications they obtain, according to research revealing the challenges faced by ethnic minority Britons pursuing professional careers (The Independent)
  7. Former Feilden & Mawson partner sues for discrimination – RIBA Council member Elsie Owusu has begun an unfair dismissal claim against former employer Feilden & Mawson at a London employment tribunal. Owusu, who hit the headlines last December when she made a complaint of “institutional racism” at the RIBA, is taking the firm to tribunal for unfair dismissal as well as sex and race discrimination along with breach of contract (BDonline)
  8. Heart specialist Dr Raj Mattu awarded more than £1 million for unfair dismissal – A heart specialist who was unfairly dismissed by the NHS has been awarded more than £1million after a three year legal fight. Doctor Raj Mattu, from Coventry, is now considering becoming a science teacher (The Mirror)
  9. Parish council to face clerk tribunal – Heckington Parish Council is facing an employment tribunal after the resignation of its clerk, Angela Edwards. Chairman Jan Palmer explained at last Monday’s meeting they had had to add £4,000 to their budget for next year to cover legal fees and a potential claim (Sleaford Standard)
  10. Firm fined after fatality at waste recycling site – A scrap metal recycling company based in Sheffield has been fined for safety failings after a worker was killed when he was hit in the head by an exploding gas cylinder (HSE)