Employment law stories in the news – 11.01.2021 to 17.01.2021

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 11 January 2021 and 17 January 2021

  1. Applicant, 50, rejected as bad fit for job with young women – A middle-aged father was discriminated against when the NHS rejected him for a job on the grounds that he would not fit in with younger female colleagues, a tribunal has ruled (The Times)
  2. Paralegal accused of hiding cheques was unfairly dismissed – A paralegal who was sacked over allegations that he withheld cheques and solicited clients was unfairly dismissed, an employment tribunal has ruled. However, it dismissed claims he was subject to racial discrimination or harassment (The Law Society Gazette)
  3. Pimlico Plumbers to make workers get vaccinations – A large London plumbing firm plans to rewrite all of its workers’ contracts to require them to be vaccinated against coronavirus. Pimlico Plumbers chairman Charlie Mullins said it was “a no-brainer” that workers should get the jab (BBC)
  4. Train driver sues after Allahu akbar bomb drill – A Muslim train driver claimed that he had suffered religious discrimination when a security firm used a fake bomb bearing the words Allahu akbar in a training exercise (The Times)
  5. Roy Chubby Brown protest venue boss tribunal case pulled – A former venue manager who resigned in protest at the booking of comedian Roy Chubby Brown has ceased her employment dispute with a council (BBC)
  6. Town council clerk branded a ‘golddigger’ and sacked after going on holiday with older married ‘sugar daddy’ councillor wins unfair dismissal claim – A deputy town council clerk who was branded a ‘gold digger’ after she formed a personal relationship with an older, married councillor and was later sacked has won a claim for unfair dismissal (The Daily Mail)
  7. ‘Aggressive’ tactics used to ditch senior execs who are working at home – Some employers in sectors badly effected by the pandemic have resorted to aggressive tactics with the aim of cutting senior executives without proper compensation, according to a law firm specialising in private wealth (Personnel Today)
  8. Worker absent for 800 shifts during career was unfairly dismissed, tribunal finds – A worker who was absent for 808 shifts over a 20-year career – costing the firm an estimated £95,850 in sick pay – has won tribunal claims of unfair dismissal against his former employer (People Management)
  9. High-flying female executive was victimised by boss after she complained that he boasted about size of friend’s manhood at Christmas party, tribunal finds – A high-flying female executive was victimised by her boss after she accused him of boasting about the size of his friend’s manhood at a Christmas party (The Daily Mail)
  10. Royal Mail manager wins £230k after bullying complaints not addressed – A former manager at Royal Mail has won a £230,000 pay-out after his complaints about bullying and discrimination were not adequately addressed, contributing to a decline in his mental health and his subsequent dismissal (Personnel Today)