Employment law stories in the news – 10.02.2020 to 16.02.2020

  1. Judges accused of not using powers to cut employment tribunal backlog – Judges are not exercising their power to dismiss claims early at employment tribunals, despite a growing backlog, a law firm said (City AM)
  2. Director who resigned in ‘heat of the moment’ was unfairly dismissed – The managing director of an electrical supplies company who resigned “in the heat of the moment” was unfairly dismissed (Personnel Today)
  3. Whistleblower surgeon loses decade long legal battle against Alder Hey Children’s Hospital – A distinguished paediatric surgeon has lost a decade long whistleblowing court battle against his former employers at Alder Hey (Liverpool Echo)
  4. Oxford College dons in ‘poison’ email row over attempt to oust Christ Church Dean who was labelled ‘little Hitler’ – Oxford University academics labelled the Dean of Christ Church college a “little Hitler” and proposed “poisoning” him as part of an attempt to oust him, leaked emails allegedly reveal (The Telegraph)
  5. Disabled employee described as ‘lively’ by manager wins discrimination and harassment claims – A customer service adviser for HMRC has won claims for discrimination and harassment on the basis of disability after she was described as “lively” by her line manager (People Management)
  6. Fife woman who lost an eye in attack was sacked after handing in “fit note” – A Fife woman who lost an eye in a sickening attack has been awarded compensation after facing discrimination at work (The Courier)
  7. Nurse unfairly dismissed for wanting to commence NHS whistleblowing process – A senior district nurse with 38 years’ experience was unfairly dismissed after she told management of her wish to instigate her employer’s formal whistleblowing procedure, an employment tribunal has judged (Personnel Today)
  8. Rio Tinto in legal battle with former manager over giant copper mine – Global mining group Rio Tinto is embroiled in a legal battle with a former employee who says it was aware of problems at a key copper project months before they were disclosed to investors (The Financial Times)
  9. Cummings and Johnson face backlash over sacking of advisers – Boris Johnson and his closest aide, Dominic Cummings, have been facing a backlash over the dismissal of senior advisers as the union representing high-ranking public servants announced that it was pursuing a case for unfair dismissal and sex discrimination against a female adviser who was sacked and marched out of Downing Street by an armed policeman (The Guardian)
  10. Lawyer denied job for being ‘expensive’ wins age discrimination case – A senior solicitor has won an age discrimination claim after being rejected for a job at a law firm because he was “expensive”, a tribunal has ruled (People Management)