Employment tribunal cases in the news – 06.10.2014 to 12.10.2014

redmans-blog-newsIn the latest of our series of posts on employment tribunal cases in the news, we take a look at ten employment tribunal cases that have made the news between 6 October and 12 October 2014.

  1. Claim triggers change to recruitment policy on colour-blind police officers – Police Scotland has reversed its blanket ban on recruiting colour-blind officers. It comes after an aspiring police officer, who was rejected from the force, mounted a legal bid to have the decision overturned. The recruit had passed all of the other tests to begin his training, but was told his moderate colour-blindness meant he would be unable to pursue a career in the force (The Press and Journal)
  2. Muslim worker claims she was not invited to Birmingham cinema’s Christmas party because of her race and religion – A Muslim woman is suing one of Birmingham’s biggest cinemas – claiming she was not invited to the staff Christmas party because of her race and religion. Amal Hussein Abdi, from Handsworth, has been cleared to proceed with legal claims for more than 40 allegations of racial discrimination against Odeon Cinemas (The Birmingham Mail)
  3. Broker hit with fraud allegations – A financial advisor firm has appealed in court for costs of proceedings when an ex-employee unsuccessfully sued it for unfair dismissal. Onyx Financial Advisors Ltd (Onyx Financial) has legally challenged its previous employee, Mr Raj Shah, who was employed by the firm as an Accounts Clerk from 2010. He resigned in March two years later (Bridging and Commercial)
  4. Droitwich manager was not unfairly dismissed – A Droitwich manager who complained he was unfairly dismissed after denying he revealed confidential information about a £3 million contract to a potential coach and bus competitor has lost his legal claims (The Droitwich Advertiser)
  5. West London Mental Health Trust employment tribunal begins – A psychologist wept as she told an employment tribunal she thought about suicide because of bullying she allegedly suffered working at the West London Mental Health Trust (HSJ)
  6. Stena Line docker homophobic abuse case to be reheard – A Belfast dock worker awarded £45,000 compensation after being sacked for reacting to alleged homophobic abuse is to have his case decided again. Senior judges granted Stena Line Irish Sea Ferries’ appeal against an industrial tribunal finding that Martin Sheil was unfairly dismissed (BBC)
  7. Charity launches age discrimination challenge against MoD – A charity is taking legal action against the Ministry of Defence (MoD), claiming it discriminates against young soldiers who enlist aged 16 or 17. Child Soldiers International (CSI) wants a judicial review of the system which requires minors to complete up to six years’ service before leaving (BBC)
  8. Walsall care boss sacked over £4million ‘deals’ – A former social care boss was sacked amid allegations he gave a credit union responsibility for £3.5 million of council cash without permission. Paul Davies is also accused of awarding work worth more than £480,000 to an organisation of which he is a trustee (The Express and Star)
  9. Northampton bus driver claims he was sacked after he refused to drive vehicle with no ‘assault shield’ – A bus driver from Northampton who claims he was sacked after refusing to drive passengers in a vehicle with no wheelchair access or an ‘assault shield’ says he will appeal the decision through the courts – though his employers maintain the double-decker was perfectly safe (Northampton Echo)
  10. Former chef at top restaurant receives £30,000 payout in pay wrangle – A chef at a top Tyneside restaurant has been handed a £30,000 pay out over a salary wrangle. Steve Jobson rose through the ranks to become head chef taking home a pay packet of £45,000 (The Chronicle Live)