News & Legal Updates

Given the massive demand for more podcasts before Autumn, Simon and Jack have relented and released their final (bonus) podcast in The Law Behind The Headlines season.

In the finale of Season 6: Simon and Jack discuss the headline “Scots Costa Worker wins £14k payout after being sacked for grabbing jacket during fire alarm”. The Employment Lawyers brew over the facts of the case of Dudenko V Costa Limited, consider points in the tribunal hearing and provide their 3 Takeaway Tips for employers. But were their coffee puns the perfect blend?

https://podcasts.captivate.fm/media/ef046041-5bda-4a99-a3d7-7cedc8b1f4a1/belp-ep-9-mix.mp3 In this season, we take a look at the stories making the headlines and ask, “Is this case for real? How did the employer get away with that? And what is the law behind the headlines?” In this episode, Michelin-starred chef is dismissed for letting his two young boys play football in his restaurant during a … Continue reading "Listen to S6 Episode 9: Hotel owner gives chef a PIZZA his mind | The Law Behind The Headlines Podcast"

Simon and Jack discuss the headline “Care worker sacked over Facebook post, saying there were no decent, honest Muslims”. Linda Henderson wins her unfair dismissal claim against Ashgill Care Home. However the Employment Judge reduces her compensation to zero partly based on her contributory conduct. We also get to hear Jack’s infamous crisp joke although there isn’t enough time to discuss his piercing….(fortunately)

In this episode, Lidl caretaker is dismissed for showing colleagues his swastika tattoo. He lodges race discrimination and unfair dismissal claims and wins compensation. Simon and Jack discuss the case of Horvarth v Lidl GB Limited along with the tests for harassment and unfair dismissal applied by the Employment Judge. They argue over the correct pronunciation of the word “Lidl” and listeners avoid hearing Jack’s terrible crisp joke. (Listeners will regrettably hear Simon sing/speak a rock song, which he believes is relevant to this case)

Simon Jack and Ruth discuss the headline, “Gym trainer with fear of sweat wins disability claim after refusing to pick up dirty towels”. Ms Burton lodges various claims of discrimination against Nuffield Health, including a claim for harassment. The team talk about the acts of harassment which Ms Burton suffered, the issue of disability and the tribunals findings. They also avoid telling Jack the identity of H (Line of Duty) and come up with their own (snappier) headlines.

In this episode, Simon and Jack discuss the headline, “What?????? University Lecturer wins £15k for using too many question marks in texts – but Judge rules excessive punctuation IS unnecessary aggressive”. They consider the employment tribunal case of Sobnack v Loughborough University where, although the tribunal found Dr Sobnack’s dismissal to have been unfair, it reduced the award on the basis of his blameworthy conduct. Simon also sings all the Leicester City Football Club songs he knows. (It’s fortunately just the one. Sung twice)

In this episode, Simon and Jack discuss the case of Staines v North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service. This case made the headlines since it involved a Yorkshire fireman who referred to his gay colleague as “Arthur” or “half a man”, was dismissed, lost his unfair dismissal claim but still won over £12k in compensation against his ex-employer. Simon and Jack sprinkle some Yorkshire phrases into this podcast (I blame Google) and, if you listen carefully, you can “enjoy” the historic “banter” JB had with Si’s mother-in-law.

In this episode, Simon, Jack and Ruth discuss a Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal case against Victoria Whelan with the headline, “Junior solicitor suspended over email sent in “moment of blind panic”. They discuss the employment points, data protection issues and data breach implications for employers. Listen to the end to see if they finally get a better headline….…

In this episode, Simon and Jack discuss the Daily Mail headline, “Officer sacked for calling black colleague ‘King of the Jungle’ wins £16,000 payout as Judge rules his remark wasn’t racist.” They discuss the reasons why the Employment Judge found that there had been an unfair dismissal. And they also get a bit excitable with their cockney (Blairgowrie) rhyming slang…