Employment Law Explained

Tag Archives: sex discrimination

Men Behaving Badly

Posted on 12/12/2011 by Michael Scutt • 4 Comments

Men Behaving Badly title card Men Behaving Badly sex discrimination news equality

In case it were needed, the Daily Telegraph today reported on a case where “laddish” behaviour in the workplace led to a substantial payout for the female Claimant, Miss Angelina Ashby, which included £15,000 for injury to feelings and £9,158 for loss of earnings.  Read the article for the details, but this case should serve as a reminder that this sort of behaviour just isn’t acceptable in the workplace.

Male workers made unpleasant jibes about her weight and appearance and viewed pornography online.  When she issued a grievance she was criticised for being too sensitive and “unmanageable”.  She won her claim for sex discrimination and constructive dismissal against her employers. There are no great surprises there.

This is a preview of Men Behaving Badly. Read the full post (352 words, 1 image, estimated 1:24 mins reading time)
Filed Under: Equality, News, sex discrimination

Jobsworth Goes to the Movies

Posted on 02/11/2010 by Michael Scutt • 0 Comments

MV5BMTQ5NTYxOTAzNV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwOTU3Njc5Mw@@. V1. SX214 CR00214314 Jobsworth Goes to the Movies miscellaneous stuff films

Last week being half-term and all, and with the Junior Jobsworths being packed off to their grandparents at Cold Comfort Farm, Mrs J and I went to the cinema.  Not just the little arts centre which shows the odd worthy foreign language film, but the proper cinema with 20 screens and 5 flavours of popcorn, none of them edible.

We saw “Made in Dagenham” and I went to see it, dear reader, just for you.

This is a preview of Jobsworth Goes to the Movies. Read the full post (513 words, 1 image, estimated 2:03 mins reading time)
Filed Under: Films, Miscellaneous Stuff

The Equality Act: Here at Last – Worth the Wait?

Posted on 01/10/2010 by Michael Scutt • 4 Comments

220px Made in dagenham poster The Equality Act: Here at Last Worth the Wait? sex discrimination equality

Today marks the introduction of the long-awaited Equality Act (EA10), a piece of legislation proposed by Labour and brought in by the current government.  Click here for the BBC’s story on it. Coincidentally perhaps, today also sees the general release of the film “Made in Dagenham” about the 1968 strike by women at the Ford car factory over sex discrimination and is credited with having led to the Equal Pay Act 1970.

This is a preview of The Equality Act: Here at Last – Worth the Wait?. Read the full post (561 words, 1 image, estimated 2:15 mins reading time)
Filed Under: Equality, sex discrimination

Redundancy Revisited

Posted on 30/05/2010 by Michael Scutt • 0 Comments

alexHRred220808 1121555a Redundancy Revisited sex discrimination redundancy

Redundancy hasn’t been in the general news recently, although Eversheds, the national law firm did hit the headlines when it was successfully sued by a male employee it selected and made redundant.  He alleged that he had been the victim of sex discrimination because he was not scored as well as a female colleague, in the same selection pool, who was on maternity leave at the time. She was scored more favourably because the firm feared doing anything else would have exposed them to a claim for sex discrimination from her.  Eversheds are appealing the decision.

This is a preview of Redundancy Revisited. Read the full post (199 words, 1 image, estimated 48 secs reading time)
Filed Under: Redundancy, sex discrimination

Things employers shouldn't ask …

Posted on 02/09/2009 by michaelscutt • 0 Comments

Most people know that employers these days shouldn’t in job interviews ask women of child-bearing age when they intend to start a family.  Nor should they now ask potential employees how old they are.  The reason in both cases is that (a) it is usually going to be none of the employer’s business but, also, (b) it runs the risk of the applicant/employee later stating that the failure to appoint them was on discriminatory grounds. A report on the Personnel Today website from a few days ago questioned the wisdom of Cherwell District Council in asking employees to state whether they intended to retire in the next two or three years.  The Council is currently asking staff to work fewer hours or to work without pay to avoid the need for redundancies.  However, its request to staff to detail their plans and aspirations over the next two to three years could lead to them facing an age discrimination claim, suggests the article, if an employee could show that they were selected for redundancy because of their stated plan to seek retirement.  The same risk would apply if a woman stated she intended to start a family and was subsequently place “at risk”. 

This is a preview of Things employers shouldn't ask …. Read the full post (428 words, estimated 1:43 mins reading time)
Filed Under: Age Discrimination, Redundancy, Redundancy or Pay Cuts?