Employment Tribunal cases in the news last week – 05.08.2013 to 11.08.2013

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In the first of our series of posts on Employment Tribunal cases that have hit the news over the last week, we take a look at Employment Tribunal and Employment Appeal Tribunal cases that have made headlines since 5 August 2013. This includes a Golders Green pastry chef sacked for using non-kosher jam, a worker who won a harassment claim after being called names including “black Brian” and a car salesman who has won his Employment Tribunal claim after being sacked for being “too old”.

  1. Golders Green pastry chef sacked over non-kosher jam wins pay-out – A pastry chef, sacked after he used non-kosher jam while working at a kosher bakery, has won a big compensation payout after employment judges ruled he had been victimised and unfairly dismissed. Cake decorator, Toufik Benali, was dismissed from Carmelli Bakeries Ltd, in Golders Green, north London, after bosses said he had committed a “gross infringement of religious rules” by using strawberry jam from Tesco in June, 2011 (The Hendon & Finchley Times)
  2. Clerk awarded £6,000 by parish council following tribunal – A former employee has won her Employment Tribunal case against the Parish she used to work for after it apparently failed to pay her wages (The Burton Mail)
  3. Black worker awarded £27,000 after hearing colleague referred to as golliwog – a worker has won £27,000 compensation in the Employment Tribunal after he was referred to as “Golliwog Brian” and “black Brian” by his colleagues (The Telegraph)
  4. Anorexic nursery teacher handed compensation over dealings with Camden headteacher – An anorexic nursery teacher has won her Employment Tribunal claim for disability discrimination and constructive dismissal against Camden Council (Ham High)
  5. Carcraft salesman Gary Hawkins sacked for being ‘too old’ at 52 wins compensation battle – A car salesman sacked after being told he was over the hill at 52 has won thousands of pounds in compensation. Gary Hawkins sued Carcraft after his boss fired him with the words: “You’re too old, you’re sacked.” The dad-of-four, the oldest employee in the firm, said the whole conversation lasted two minutes and came after the manager got a high from firing two other employees (The Mirror)
  6. Hospital whistleblower ‘bullied by colleagues after exposing dangerous nursing practices’ was offered 56 pence compensation to settle case – A healthcare assistant has been offered 56 pence in compensation after she was warned that she could face a heavy costs bill if she loses her Employment Tribunal (The Daily Mail)
  7. A victory for mothers, says housekeeper told not to get pregnant – A Polish housekeeper has won her Employment Tribunal claims for unfair dismissal and pregnancy discrimination after she was dismissed by her employer (The Evening Standard)