Employment law stories in the news – 05.01.2015 to 11.01.2015

redmans-blog-newsIn the latest of our series of posts on employment law stories in the news this week, we take a look at ten employment law stories that have made headlines between 5 January and 11 January 2015

  1. Worktop firm in court after man loses finger in unguarded machine – A worktop manufacturer has been fined after an employee had to have two fingers amputated when they came into contact with an unguarded cutting blade(HSE)
  2. Conservatives pledge public sector strike curbs – The Conservative Party says it will make it harder to call strikes in certain “core” public services if it wins the general election. Under the plans, a strike affecting health, transport, fire services or schools would need the backing of 40% of eligible union members (BBC)
  3. Leamington solicitors’ staff to get pay out – A solicitor and legal assistant who lost their jobs when a leading solicitors firm in Leamington went into administration are in line for a share of a total of more than £180,000 (Leamington Courier)
  4. Ofsted ‘positive discrimination’ call – Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw has said head teachers faced with equal candidates for a teaching post should consider “positive discrimination”. The head of the education watchdog told LBC Radio that the teaching staff of schools should reflect the ethnic diversity of their pupils (BBC)
  5. Employment tribunal fees price workers out of justice – Since July 2013, when the government introduced fees for anyone taking their employer to an employment tribunal, there has been a huge drop in claims. This is denying workers access to justice – and in particular women with discrimination claims (The Guardian)
  6. Tribunal awards former contractor workers £560k – Workers employed by Connaught on an outsourced housing maintenance contract for Norwich City Council have won a payout in the region of £560,000 after a four-and-a-half year legal battle (Inside Housing)
  7. Keep up the pressure on enforcing the minimum wage, says TUC – Enforcement of the national minimum wage must be continuously improved in order to combat those employers who are actively trying to find ways not to pay their workers properly, says a new report published today (Thursday) by the TUC (TUC)
  8. Lollipop man sues council for unfair dismissal after calling black colleague ‘King Kong’ – A lollipop man suing Camden Council for sacking him after calling a black colleague “King Kong” today told of his “hell” since the dismissal as his claim entered a second day (The Evening Standard)
  9. Conservatives call time on taxpayer-funded six-figure ‘golden goodbyes’ – Controversial six figure “golden goodbyes” for public sector workers will be banned if the Conservatives win the general election in four months’ time. The commitment, which will be in the party’s General Election manifesto in May, will cap pay-offs at £95,000 each in the National Health Service, the civil service, council staff and even the BBC (The Telegraph)
  10. Waste company fined over worker’s life-changing injuries – A nationwide waste management company has been told to pay nearly £170,000 for safety failings after an employee suffered multiple injuries when he was crushed between a truck and a skip at a site in Essex (HSE)