Employment law stories in the news – 12.06.2017 to 18.06.2017

In the latest of our series of posts on employment law stories in the news, we take a look at ten employment law-related stories that have made headlines between 12 June and 18 June 2017

Former employees win case against Mark Group – but failed company will not pay compensation – Former employees of the collapsed Mark Group are understood to be furious the failed company will not have to pay out a penny in compensation, despite a judge finding in their favour. Leicester-based Mark Group, once a leading installer of solar panels and home insulation, went into administration in October 2015, with the loss of 939 UK jobs – 577 of which were based at its headquarters in Boston Road, Beaumont Leys (The Leicester Mercury)
Company fined after the death of worker – A North East based contractor Pyeroy Ltd has been fined due to failings in their work at height rescue planning. Plymouth Magistrates Court heard that on 21 October 2013 Mr Keith Stevens, aged 57, was helping to dismantle temporary roofing at Devonport Naval Base using a mobile elevated work platform (MEWP) (HSE)
Councillor loses case against city charity – A city councillor who was sacked by a national charity has lost his claim of unfair dismissal following an Employment Tribunal. Liberal Democrat Cllr Darren Fower was let go last September after he took annual leave from city-based charity Shine due to a panic attack, but told his employers that he was looking after his sister’s children while she was in hospital (Peterborough Today)
Oyston family ‘treated Blackpool FC as cash machine’ – The family which own and run Blackpool FC have been accused at the High Court of treating the club as “the family’s personal cash machine”. Andrew Green QC, representing club president Valeri Belokon, said owner Owen and chairman Karl Oyston took millions of pounds from the club after Premier League promotion in 2010 (BBC)
Company fined after failing to comply with enforcement action – Hatchmere Park Ltd has been fined after failing to comply with enforcement safety notices. On 12 March 2015, a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector visited the construction site at Falcon Park, Devon and observed serious health and safety failings (HSE)
Ritzy staff dismissed in latest Picturehouse-Bectu flare-up – Union claims staff dismissed due to pay dispute; cinema cites cyber hacking. Three staff from the Ritzy cinema in Brixton are understood to have been dismissed this week in the latest episode of a long-running feud between Cineworld-owned exhibitor Picturehouse and UK entertainment union Bectu (Screen Daily)
Capita call centre chap wins landmark sex discrimination lawsuit – A Capita man working in a Telefonica call centre has won a sex discrimination lawsuit against the outsourcing giant after bosses threatened him with a pay cut if he took paternity leave. Madasar Ali wanted to take paternity leave to care for his new daughter, Yasmin, but was told he would only receive two weeks off on full pay, The Times reported today (The Register)
UK workers are cheated out of at least £1.5bn a year in holiday pay – Employers are cheating British workers out of at least £1.5bn a year in holiday pay to which they are legally entitled, a study has found. One in 20 workers report not being given statutory holiday pay, while one in 12 workers does not receive a payslip as required by law (The Guardian)
‘Over-promoted’ medical practice manager wins constructive dismissal tribunal – An “over-promoted” medical practice manager has won a constructive dismissal case against her former employer after claiming she was bullied by a “brusque and blunt” doctor (People Management)
Two in five UK workers say they have experienced workplace bias – A survey of over 2,000 public and private sector employees has revealed that two in five workers in the UK say that they have experienced workplace bias, and one in five have hidden their age, disability, social background or sexuality when applying for a job (The Independent)