Latest news with #Hussey
RTÉ News
8 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Calling manager 'useless' not a firing offence, WRC finds
The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) has ordered Tesco to re-employ a worker it sacked last year for calling his manager "useless" in a performance review meeting - after ruling the supermarket's management went over the top in dismissing him. Trade union SIPTU had accused supermarket bosses of "circling the wagons" in response to a legitimate grievance and subjecting the worker to a "crude exhibition of power" by upgrading a final written warning to summary dismissal to get rid of him. "The emperor does not like being told that he isn't wearing any clothes," the complainant's union rep said in a submission when the case came before the tribunal earlier this year. Denying warehouse operative Cathal Hussey's complaint under the Unfair Dismissal Act 1977, Tesco Ireland Ltd took the position that the manager's dignity was violated and the dismissal was "justified". Vivian Cullen of the SIPTU Workers' Rights Centre, appearing for Mr Hussey, submitted that his client, a Tesco employee of 16 years earning €700 a week, had "outstanding legitimate grievances which were being ignored by management" when he met with his line manager, Martynas Bajarunas for a performance review meeting on 25 November 2023. According to Mr Bajarunas's account of the meeting, the claimant read from a 12-page document outlining unspecified "concerns and issues". "At the end, he said to me: 'You are useless.'" The witness said he felt "harassed, stressed and bullied" by the remark, adding later that he had made a formal complaint because he felt "unsafe coming to work". The complainant, Mr Hussey, did not give any evidence to the tribunal. The tribunal heard Mr Bajarunas filed a formal grievance under the company's bullying and harassment policy against Mr Hussey – who refused to participate in an investigation meeting in January 2024. The probe concluded Mr Hussey had committed a breach of the policy. The contents of the 12-page document he had produced and read were out of line with company policy and "very concerning, unreasonable, disrespectful and improper", the investigator further concluded. Following a disciplinary meeting on 19 January, which Mr Hussey did attend, a company disciplinary officer decided there was "serious misconduct because the dignity of [Mr Bajarunas] was violated", the tribunal heard. Mr Hussey appealed the sanction imposed, a final written warning. However, the senior human resources officer who heard the appeal, Mary White, decided to upgrade the sanction to summary dismissal, the tribunal was told. Ms White gave evidence that the 12-page document showed Mr Hussey's remark was "not a heat-of-the-moment type of thing". "This was all put in writing, that he thought [Martynas Bajarunas] was useless, and he was giving out about other managers," she said, adding that it was "inappropriate behaviour to call someone 'useless'". She believed re-location was "not really an option" as there was "no remorse and no apology". Ms White agreed when Mr Cullen put it to her that bullying was "inappropriate repetitive behaviour". Mr Cullen put it to the witness that there was a single allegation that his client "called someone useless" and asked whether she regarded that as "a dismissible offence". "Yes," Ms White said. Mr Hussey's further appeal of the sanction was upheld by a second company appeals officer. Adjudicator Eileen Campbell wrote in her decision that the final written warning "should have remained the sanction and should not have been elevated". The reason for escalating the sanction to summary dismissal had "not been justified or explained to any degree of satisfaction" by Tesco, she wrote. "I do not condone in any way the complainant's behaviour towards the line manager, which is unacceptable on any level," she wrote. However, she concluded Tesco had "failed to requirement for reasonableness" set out in the Unfair Dismissals Act. Upholding Mr Hussey's complaint, she rejected the union's application for full reinstatement – a remedy which would have meant the employer was liable to pay Mr Hussey back wages from the point of dismissal. Instead, Ms Campbell directed Tesco to re-engage the worker in employment by mid-August this year, with afinal written warning to remain on his personnel file for a year. She directed that the period since his Mr Hussey's dismissal be treated as unpaid suspension. Closing submissions In a closing submission, Dajana Sinik of IBEC, for the employer, said she would have liked to ask Mr Hussey why he wanted his job back in a company "that he alleges exploits its employees" and that it was "disappointing" that he did not testify. She argued the document produced by Mr Hussey showed a "breakdown" in the employment relationship. Mr Cullen argued the case against Mr Hussey was a "cynical" attempt to "silence a genuine grievance". He said his client "did not in fact bully or harass his manager but merely tried to highlight on-going concerns. including a request to change line managers". "The concept of bullying and harassment has been weaponised against the complainant in a fait accompli; management circling the wagons," he added. "Their way of dealing with a problem… was to get rid of the problem, the complainant. It is submitted the emperor does not like being told that he isn't wearing any clothes," Mr Cullen said.
Business Wire
15 hours ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Brighton Park Capital Opens London Office
NEW YORK & LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Brighton Park Capital ('Brighton Park'), an investment firm focused on entrepreneur-led, growth-stage companies in software and healthcare, today announced the opening of a new office in London. Tom Hussey has joined the firm as a Partner and will lead and expand the European team. With offices in New York, Connecticut, and San Francisco, this marks Brighton Park's first office outside the U.S. Brighton Park has been an active investor in the EMEA region for years, partnering with exceptional entrepreneurs and breakthrough companies. The establishment of the London office deepens the firm's presence in Europe—strengthening local relationships, unlocking new investment opportunities, and enhancing its ability to support companies as they launch and scale strategies in the UK and EU, and expand into the U.S. 'The opening of our London office marks a significant milestone in our mission to back the next generation of category-defining software companies,' said Mark Dzialga, Managing Partner at Brighton Park Capital. 'Europe is home to a growing wave of founder-led businesses building globally relevant, AI-powered platforms with deep technical differentiation. We're excited to bring our capital, network, and company-building expertise to support these exceptional entrepreneurs across the continent.' Mr. Dzialga continued, 'We have had a longstanding relationship with Tom, and he is the ideal person to spearhead this effort. Tom has demonstrated outstanding company-building skills and has been successful in investing in most of the major markets in Europe. Tom also has a deep network of relationships in the growth equity ecosystem.' Mr. Hussey joins Brighton Park Capital following 12 years at General Atlantic, where he focused on technology investments and co-chaired the EMEA Investment Committee. He played a key role in more than 20 investments and exits across EMEA, including Adevinta, Argus Media, Epsilon Net, Hemnet, and Odoo. Earlier in his career, Mr. Hussey was with The Boston Consulting Group. 'Europe is producing a new generation of visionary founders who are building AI-native software and healthcare technology companies with global ambition,' said Mr. Hussey. 'I'm excited to lead our efforts from London—helping these innovative teams scale their businesses across Europe, expand into the U.S., and navigate the opportunities and challenges of international growth.' About Brighton Park Capital Brighton Park Capital is a New York-based investment firm focused on entrepreneur-led, growth-stage software, healthcare and tech-enabled services companies. The firm invests in companies that provide highly innovative solutions in partnership with great management teams. Brighton Park brings purpose-built, value-add capabilities that match the unique requirements of each of its companies. For more information about Brighton Park Capital, please visit
The Advertiser
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
Calls for content rating as violence, misogyny found in young adult fiction
Parents of young readers may be shocked to learn that many popular novels marketed to preteen girls contain graphic sexual assault and domestic violence themes. A child safeguarding expert has called for content warnings on young adult (YA) fiction to protect vulnerable kids and teens, as well as an industry-wide book rating classification system. Novels such as the Icebreaker series, A Court of Thorns and Roses, Once Upon a Broken Heart and Lore Olympus included violent or explicit storylines, new research has found. While some novels were not explicitly directed at preteens, they were popular with girls as young as 12 due to the influence of social media. Dr Emma Hussey, from the Australian Catholic University's (ACU) Institute of Child Protection Studies, said the books were often available in school and community libraries, and were easily accessible to children of all ages. "We looked at a range of fantasy, romance, paranormal, and general fiction novels that were being promoted to teenagers and compared the relationship dynamics to real-world warning signs of abuse," Dr Hussey said. "What we found was a pattern of emotional manipulation, jealousy and control being regularly framed as signs of love," the digital criminologist said. "That was really alarming because these are behaviours that we warn about in domestic violence education, but they're being normalised in fiction that young readers are picking up." ACU academics conducted a thematic analysis of 20 novels recommended by BookTok, a literature subcommunity on TikTok, which are popular among young readers. They found that each novel contained elements of domestic and family violence such as sexual assault, torture, grooming, power and control, including dominance and submission. They also found themes of sexual objectification and masculinity tropes, including powerful, dangerous, and handsome male love interests. "Extreme" sexually explicit content was found in 65 per cent of books analysed, and "moderate" sexual content was in a quarter of books. Graphic and extreme violence was also found in 65 per cent of books, according to the research. Dr Hussey described a scene in Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber where the protagonist is restrained by her love interest. The god-like male character's kiss is poisonous to the protagonist, who is in "constant threat" of death during their courtship, the child safeguarding expert said. The love interest denies the main character's autonomy and is able to speak through her body, Dr Hussey said. "If young readers consistently consume stories where love is tied to obsession, jealousy, possessiveness, or control, they may internalise these behaviours as normal - even desirable - in relationships," Dr Hussey said. "We are already facing a domestic violence epidemic. If girls grow up believing these themes are what they should be looking for in a relationship we run the risk of perpetuating this cycle," she said. Following the research by ACU, Dr Hussey is calling for content warnings to be included on book covers. She is also advocating for the adoption of an industry-wide classification system, similar to those seen in film and television, so parents are able to check if their child is reading developmentally inappropriate content. "A rating system is not about censorship. It is about transparency and ensuring books containing themes such as violence, explicit sexual content, and unhealthy relationship dynamics are classified appropriately," she said. READ MORE: Book ban overturned in rowdy council meeting Some publishers include an age rating in small print, others include content warnings, but some "prefer you to go in blind", the digital criminologist said. "The reality is that many parents have no idea what their children are reading," Dr Hussey said. "The time for action is now," she said. "Parents, schools, and policymakers must work together to implement structured guidance that protects young readers while still allowing them to explore and engage with stories in a way that is safe, educational, and developmentally appropriate." Penguin Books Australia and Bloomsbury Publishing were contacted for comment. Parents of young readers may be shocked to learn that many popular novels marketed to preteen girls contain graphic sexual assault and domestic violence themes. A child safeguarding expert has called for content warnings on young adult (YA) fiction to protect vulnerable kids and teens, as well as an industry-wide book rating classification system. Novels such as the Icebreaker series, A Court of Thorns and Roses, Once Upon a Broken Heart and Lore Olympus included violent or explicit storylines, new research has found. While some novels were not explicitly directed at preteens, they were popular with girls as young as 12 due to the influence of social media. Dr Emma Hussey, from the Australian Catholic University's (ACU) Institute of Child Protection Studies, said the books were often available in school and community libraries, and were easily accessible to children of all ages. "We looked at a range of fantasy, romance, paranormal, and general fiction novels that were being promoted to teenagers and compared the relationship dynamics to real-world warning signs of abuse," Dr Hussey said. "What we found was a pattern of emotional manipulation, jealousy and control being regularly framed as signs of love," the digital criminologist said. "That was really alarming because these are behaviours that we warn about in domestic violence education, but they're being normalised in fiction that young readers are picking up." ACU academics conducted a thematic analysis of 20 novels recommended by BookTok, a literature subcommunity on TikTok, which are popular among young readers. They found that each novel contained elements of domestic and family violence such as sexual assault, torture, grooming, power and control, including dominance and submission. They also found themes of sexual objectification and masculinity tropes, including powerful, dangerous, and handsome male love interests. "Extreme" sexually explicit content was found in 65 per cent of books analysed, and "moderate" sexual content was in a quarter of books. Graphic and extreme violence was also found in 65 per cent of books, according to the research. Dr Hussey described a scene in Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber where the protagonist is restrained by her love interest. The god-like male character's kiss is poisonous to the protagonist, who is in "constant threat" of death during their courtship, the child safeguarding expert said. The love interest denies the main character's autonomy and is able to speak through her body, Dr Hussey said. "If young readers consistently consume stories where love is tied to obsession, jealousy, possessiveness, or control, they may internalise these behaviours as normal - even desirable - in relationships," Dr Hussey said. "We are already facing a domestic violence epidemic. If girls grow up believing these themes are what they should be looking for in a relationship we run the risk of perpetuating this cycle," she said. Following the research by ACU, Dr Hussey is calling for content warnings to be included on book covers. She is also advocating for the adoption of an industry-wide classification system, similar to those seen in film and television, so parents are able to check if their child is reading developmentally inappropriate content. "A rating system is not about censorship. It is about transparency and ensuring books containing themes such as violence, explicit sexual content, and unhealthy relationship dynamics are classified appropriately," she said. READ MORE: Book ban overturned in rowdy council meeting Some publishers include an age rating in small print, others include content warnings, but some "prefer you to go in blind", the digital criminologist said. "The reality is that many parents have no idea what their children are reading," Dr Hussey said. "The time for action is now," she said. "Parents, schools, and policymakers must work together to implement structured guidance that protects young readers while still allowing them to explore and engage with stories in a way that is safe, educational, and developmentally appropriate." Penguin Books Australia and Bloomsbury Publishing were contacted for comment. Parents of young readers may be shocked to learn that many popular novels marketed to preteen girls contain graphic sexual assault and domestic violence themes. A child safeguarding expert has called for content warnings on young adult (YA) fiction to protect vulnerable kids and teens, as well as an industry-wide book rating classification system. Novels such as the Icebreaker series, A Court of Thorns and Roses, Once Upon a Broken Heart and Lore Olympus included violent or explicit storylines, new research has found. While some novels were not explicitly directed at preteens, they were popular with girls as young as 12 due to the influence of social media. Dr Emma Hussey, from the Australian Catholic University's (ACU) Institute of Child Protection Studies, said the books were often available in school and community libraries, and were easily accessible to children of all ages. "We looked at a range of fantasy, romance, paranormal, and general fiction novels that were being promoted to teenagers and compared the relationship dynamics to real-world warning signs of abuse," Dr Hussey said. "What we found was a pattern of emotional manipulation, jealousy and control being regularly framed as signs of love," the digital criminologist said. "That was really alarming because these are behaviours that we warn about in domestic violence education, but they're being normalised in fiction that young readers are picking up." ACU academics conducted a thematic analysis of 20 novels recommended by BookTok, a literature subcommunity on TikTok, which are popular among young readers. They found that each novel contained elements of domestic and family violence such as sexual assault, torture, grooming, power and control, including dominance and submission. They also found themes of sexual objectification and masculinity tropes, including powerful, dangerous, and handsome male love interests. "Extreme" sexually explicit content was found in 65 per cent of books analysed, and "moderate" sexual content was in a quarter of books. Graphic and extreme violence was also found in 65 per cent of books, according to the research. Dr Hussey described a scene in Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber where the protagonist is restrained by her love interest. The god-like male character's kiss is poisonous to the protagonist, who is in "constant threat" of death during their courtship, the child safeguarding expert said. The love interest denies the main character's autonomy and is able to speak through her body, Dr Hussey said. "If young readers consistently consume stories where love is tied to obsession, jealousy, possessiveness, or control, they may internalise these behaviours as normal - even desirable - in relationships," Dr Hussey said. "We are already facing a domestic violence epidemic. If girls grow up believing these themes are what they should be looking for in a relationship we run the risk of perpetuating this cycle," she said. Following the research by ACU, Dr Hussey is calling for content warnings to be included on book covers. She is also advocating for the adoption of an industry-wide classification system, similar to those seen in film and television, so parents are able to check if their child is reading developmentally inappropriate content. "A rating system is not about censorship. It is about transparency and ensuring books containing themes such as violence, explicit sexual content, and unhealthy relationship dynamics are classified appropriately," she said. READ MORE: Book ban overturned in rowdy council meeting Some publishers include an age rating in small print, others include content warnings, but some "prefer you to go in blind", the digital criminologist said. "The reality is that many parents have no idea what their children are reading," Dr Hussey said. "The time for action is now," she said. "Parents, schools, and policymakers must work together to implement structured guidance that protects young readers while still allowing them to explore and engage with stories in a way that is safe, educational, and developmentally appropriate." Penguin Books Australia and Bloomsbury Publishing were contacted for comment.
Indian Express
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
Mike Hussey's advice to under-firing Konstas: Be patient and improve the mental side
After his sparkling debut, where he even scooped Jasprit Bumrah over the fence, teenage opener Sam Konstas's graph has plummeted. In the five outings after his 65-ball 60 at MCG, he has mustered only 61 runs, putting his place in jeopardy. He was named in the eleven for the second Test against West Indies in Granada, but time is running out for him to cement his place in the eleven. But he has the sympathies of former Australian batsman Mike Hussey. '(Konstas) is still a very young player, he's only 19. He's still trying to figure out his own game, at first-class level, let alone Test-match level in conditions that are so foreign to what he would be used to. I'm not sure he would have ever batted on pitches like what they're getting in the West Indies,' he told Fox Cricket. 'It's great education for him, and we're going to have to have some patience. It's going to take some time and he's going to have to learn on the job a bit,' he added. He looked timorous in Barbados, where Shamar Joseph hustled him with pace and movement. He consumed him in both innings, nailing him in front with a malicious nip-backer in the first dig and making him chop onto the stumps in the second. But Hussey was firmly behind him. 'But there's no denying he's got some great talent. I'm sure that the journey is going to be bumpy, particularly in the first few years. There's going to be some ups and downs, but let's hope there's a few more ups than downs along the way,' he remarked. Team coach Andrew McDonald too has backed his young charge to come good sooner than later. He observed that it was a matter of time before he struck the fine balance between attack and defence. Against India, he was over attacking; versus West Indies over-defensive. 'It felt like he was stuck at times and he was over-aggressive and then [he] underplayed. It's really that balance and tempo. He's got that there and that's a step up to Test cricket. He's got a really good partner down the other end [in Usman Khawaja] that over time, I think, will play out. That's all we ask for – a bit of patience and time with a young player coming into Test cricket,' explained. A technical glitch has already surfaced. He gets into a tangle when the ball seams in, and subsequently gets bowled or lbw. 'He's been on the record around working on his technique in the winter and some small adjustments and how they play out in training versus under extreme pressure is always a different sort of pattern,' McDonald said. Hussey said he didn't detect anything alarming in his technique. 'I feel as though teams will be targeting balls running back towards the stumps, LBW and bowled. He could probably just tighten up on that little part of his game a bit, but generally speaking his technique is reasonably sound. Then the mental side of the game kicks in and he's just a little bit unsure, but that's probably down to unfamiliar conditions in the West Indies,' he said.
South Wales Argus
25-06-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Giles Hussey misses out on progressing to main draw of Wimbledon
Hussey was beaten 4-6 6-3 7-5 by August Holmgren in an absorbing two-hour battle in Roehampton to end his hopes of reaching the main draw of a Grand Slam for the first time. But the Swindon native resolved to take the positives from his narrow defeat after a strong showing in his maiden Wimbledon match. 'I am a little disappointed to walk away losing that, but I am pretty proud of the way I competed, but some days it's just not meant to be,' he said. 'It was an awesome experience. I had a bunch of friends and family there. For people who aren't huge tennis fans, the obvious first question is 'Have you ever played Wimbledon?', so it will be nice to now finally be able to say yes. 'I love playing at home, playing events like this where the crowds are bigger and they get behind the British players is awesome. 'After my match, I was thinking to myself it's a shame I have to wait 364 days to do this again. I will do my best this year, but I definitely hope to be back. 'It's a great experience to just be here and compete. This is my first time here, that in itself is a dream come true.' Hussey looked to be in control of the contest, with the Brit a set and a break to the good in the second set before Holmgren broke twice in succession to flip the contest on its head. The Dane never looked back from there but was made to fight all the way by Hussey, who was pleased with how he played. 'I put myself in a good position and was feeling pretty good but he raised his level pretty well and served a lot better,' he reflected. 'The third set was back and forth and could have gone either way. 'I came into the event coming through pre-qualifying. I had a few wins under my belt leading into the first round of qualifying and I believed I could make a run, so it's a little disappointing to not. 'But it has been a great grass-court season for me, I have had a few of my career-best wins in the Challenger events leading up to this. 'I can definitely take confidence from the last few weeks as a whole. It shows what I am doing with my team is the right stuff and I am trending in the right direction.' For the latest action on the British summer grass court season, check out the LTA website
