Employment law stories in the news – 13.01.2020 and 19.01.2020

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 13 January 2020 and 19 January 2020

  1. Barrhead Travel founder Bill Munro ‘unfairly dismissed’ – Barrhead Travel founder Bill Munro was unfairly dismissed by the company in 2018, an employment tribunal has ruled (BBC)
  2. MoJ finally opens refund scheme for court fees – The government has finally opened a scheme to pay back money to people who may have been overcharged for court services over a four-year period (The Law Society Gazette)
  3. Professor Paul Ewart: Oxford stands ground on ‘unfair’ policy of forced retirement at 68 – Professor Paul Ewart: Oxford stands ground on ‘unfair’ policy of forced retirement at 68 (The Times)
  4. 55-year-old ex-Citigroup banker who was called ‘old’ by his boss wins age case – A former Citigroup investment banker has won an age discrimination case after his boss said “you are old and set in your ways” (City AM)
  5. Weightmans entitled to fire worker over internet browsing, tribunal rules – National firm Weightmans acted within the law to sack a long-serving staff member over her internet usage whilst at work, an employment tribunal has found (The Law Society Gazette)
  6. Surge in disability discrimination cases at employment tribunals – Companies are being hit by a rise in employment tribunal cases for disability discrimination following the abolition of hearing fees and a reported increase in workers willing to lodge claims related to mental health issues (The Financial Times)
  7. Employment tribunal finds that Antonio Conte was ‘unfairly sacked’ by Chelsea – Antonio Conte will receive an extra £85,000 from Chelsea in compensation after an employment tribunal found the Italian was unfairly sacked by the Blues (Metro)
  8. Holland & Barrett constructively unfairly dismissed disabled manager after failing to make reasonable adjustments – Tribunal finds expecting employee with a chronic bladder condition and anxiety to work alone affected her ability to cope with the demands of a large store (People Management)
  9. ‘Humiliated’ employee sued law firm over birthday ‘ambush’ – A legal secretary who claimed she suffered age discrimination when her colleagues asked about her 50th birthday and sent her a card has had her case dismissed by the employment tribunal (The Law Society Gazette)
  10. Trans Woman Wins £9,000 In Sex Discrimination Case With Struggling Department Store Debenhams – A trans woman is set to receive £9,000 from Debenhams after settling a sex discrimination case against the high street department store (Forbes)