Employment law stories in the news – 23.12.2019 to 05.1.2020

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 23 December 2019 and 5 January 2020

1. Firefighters to remain members of ‘more favourable’ pension scheme – Thousands of firefighters will be able to return to their pre-2015 pension schemes, an employment tribunal has clarified, after an earlier judgment found changes made four years ago had been discriminatory (Personnel Today)
2. Company fined following extensive fire at chemical site – Chemical company LMA Services Ltd has been sentenced for safety breaches after a fire which quickly took hold of buildings and storage areas at the site (HSE)
3. Tribunal ends ’10 years of darkness’ for Highland dental therapist – A dental therapist is furious NHS Highland will not take action against high-ranking staff who she claims bullied her out of a job (Inverness Courier)
4. Ethical veganism is philosophical belief, tribunal rules – Ethical veganism is a “philosophical belief” and so is protected in law, a tribunal has ruled for the first time. The landmark legal case was brought by vegan Jordi Casamitjana, who claims he was sacked by the League Against Cruel Sports because of his ethical veganism (BBC)
5. BBC seeks to settle equal pay cases ahead of Samira Ahmed tribunal verdict – The BBC has approached women who are bringing equal pay cases against it to discuss potential settlements, in an apparent attempt to head off a repeat of Samira Ahmed’s employment tribunal (The Guardian)
6. Man wins payout after boss tell him to pretend he’s gay to keep job at boutique – A shop assistant, told to pretend he was gay to keep his job in a fashion accessories boutique, has won a payout for discrimination (IOL)
7. Oxford University loses landmark legal case over ‘ageist’ policy that forced professor to quit at 70 – An Oxford professor forced to quit before his 70th birthday has won a landmark age discrimination battle against the university (Telegraph)
8. Former Wentworth boss sues for £750,000 for unfair dismissal and racial discrimination after daughter of golf course’s billionaire Chinese owner gets his job – The former boss of one of England’s most famous golf courses is suing the new owner of the club for £750,000, as he claims he was dismissed unfairly (Daily Mail)
9. Trader diagnosed with depression after excessive working wins tribunal claim – A trader who became ill after working excessive hours in an understaffed department was discriminated against because of his mental health, which amounted to a disability, an employment tribunal has ruled (Personnel Today)
10. Whistleblowing nurse branded a ‘nuisance’ awarded £127,000 for unfair dismissal – A whistleblower who was unfairly dismissed after raising concerns over the treatment of NHS staff has been awarded more than £127,000 by an employment tribunal (People Management)