Latest news with #employment tribunal
BBC News
13 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Leicester City Council race discrimination case appeal dismissed
Leicester City Council has lost a second court appeal after an employment tribunal found it racially discriminated against an 2023, a tribunal panel found "race played a part" in decisions made by a senior member of staff in relation to social worker Bindu council appealed to the Employment Appeal Tribunal, but that was dismissed in Tuesday, three Court of Appeal judges dismissed the council's second appeal. Mrs Parmar, a British national of Indian origin, claimed she was discriminated against after she was made the subject of a disciplinary investigation in January was accused of not acting in line with leadership standards, but the employment tribunal heard in 2023 there was "nothing of substance" to start an also found there was "no other credible explanation" for how Mrs Parmar was treated. The council appealed the original decision on 11 grounds, arguing the panel used insufficient grounds to shift the burden of proof on to the authority during the tribunal and failed to show adequate reasoning for its conclusionBut all 11 grounds were its arguments to the Court of Appeal, the authority argued again that the burden of proof shifting to the organisation from Mrs Parmar was wrong and that errors were made in the initial tribunal and first four grounds of its latest appeal were Parmar, who said she left her role at the city council in 2022 after 33 years, told the BBC while she felt "vindicated" once again by the Court of Appeal ruling, she was "frustrated" by the council's decision to appeal in the first place. 'It's embarrassing' She said: "I'm disappointed that the council has chosen to waste tax payers money by fighting my case again and again."What's frustrating is that most organisations would or should just accept it, apologise, make the necessary changes and move on, but they're fighting tooth and nail for something they don't need to fight."It's embarrassing."She added that she believed the council was "sending a message" to others who might be concerned about their treatment in the workplace by appealing the McAnea, general secretary of the union Unison - which has been supporting Mrs Parmar, called the council's decision to appeal "appalling".She said: "Local authorities should never be allowed to waste public money like this."A council spokesman said: "We have recently received the judgement and are carefully reviewing it, before considering whether or not to appeal."Mrs Parmar said she was also bringing an unfair dismissal claim against the city council, with a hearing due to take place this year.
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Telegraph
Waitrose workers sacked over ‘unauthorised holiday' sued for race discrimination
Two Waitrose employees attempted to sue the supermarket after they were fired for going on an unauthorised trip abroad. Peter Hedger and Katerina Dimitrova claimed they were victims of racial discrimination because of their 'tanned skin', according to MailOnline. The couple went on holiday to Bulgaria, Ms Dimitrova's home country, before extending their stay without their employer's permission. They are believed to have spent up to two months in Bulgaria while telling bosses they were house hunting in the UK. At no point did they mention that they were abroad. When the couple returned to work, managers reportedly found their extended absence suspicious because of their 'tanned appearance'. Unauthorised absence John Lewis, which owns the supermarket chain, dismissed the couple for gross misconduct, citing unauthorised absence as their reason for doing so. 'The [couple] put in a leave request for Sept 2 2023, which was refused,' a virtual employment tribunal held in Birmingham was told. 'They then made a contact with their branch on a number of occasions between Sept 9 2023 and Oct 28 2023. 'On none of these occasions did they mention that they were abroad and it was only after they returned to the UK that they disclosed that they had travelled to Bulgaria towards the end of August 2023.' The couple submitted a claim based on Ms Dimitrova's nationality, which was struck out as it had 'no reasonable prospects of success', according to Naeema Choudry, the employment judge on the case. The judge went on to state that she was 'satisfied that the allegation relating to 'tanned skin' had no reasonable prospects of success' and struck that claim out as well. Ms Dimitrova's other claim, relating to the right to be accompanied at a disciplinary meeting, has yet to be heard by a tribunal, and is reported to be scheduled for a later date.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Couple sue Waitrose for race discrimination after they were sacked when they came back from an unauthorised holiday with a tan
A couple sued Waitrose for race discrimination after they came back from an illicit holiday with a tan. Peter Hedger and Katerina Dimitrova were sacked from the supermarket for going on an unauthorised trip abroad, an employment tribunal heard. They sued the upmarket retail giant, claiming that they were discriminated against because of their 'tanned skin'. However, the tribunal found that they were sacked for going on holiday to Miss Dimitrova's home country of Bulgaria, and extending their stay without permission. The tribunal, held virtually in Birmingham, heard that the couple worked at Waitrose, which is owned by John Lewis. It was told: 'The (couple) put in a leave request for 2 September 2023 which was refused. 'They then made a contact with their branch on a number of occasions between 9 September 2023 and 28 October 2023. 'On none of these occasions did they mention that they were abroad and it was only after they returned to the UK that they disclosed that they had travelled to Bulgaria towards the end of August 2023.' The tribunal was told the retailer's position was that the couple 'had been dismissed for gross misconduct namely, unauthorised absence'. It added: 'On appeal the appeal officer had concluded that the evidence showed that the (couple) had not been open and honest with their branch about the reasons for absence, had not let their managers know of the absence at the soonest opportunity and had not informed their managers that they would be in Bulgaria. 'Unauthorised absence was listed as an example of gross misconduct (in John Lewis)'s handbook.' It appeared that the couple had claimed to be house hunting in the UK, when in fact they had extended their stay in Bulgaria. A letter on the outcome of their appeal said: 'I suspect you went to Bulgaria during your authorised leave and decided to stay longer.' Mr Hedger told the tribunal that the situation had come about because neither he nor Miss Dimitrova had anywhere to live. He added that 'neither he nor Ms Dimitrova had worked since their dismissal as it was difficult for them to get work on the same shift, their financial means were not good and they had no income'. Employment Judge Naeema Choudry said: 'The reason for dismissal was not due to the (couple) being in Bulgaria but because they were believed to be absent from work for no good reason and not to be house-hunting in the UK because they were abroad at the relevant time, having stayed abroad after a period of authorised annual leave. 'As such, a claim based on Ms Dimitrova's Bulgarian nationality has no reasonable prospects of success and is struck out. 'I am also satisfied that the allegation relating to "tanned skin" has no reasonable prospects of success and should be struck out. 'It is clear that the (couple) were dismissed because they were perceived to be on holiday when they were supposed to be at work and not because they had tanned skin.' Their claims for discrimination and harassment on the grounds of race were struck out because 'they have no reasonable prospect of success'. Both of their claims for unfair dismissal have also been struck out.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Swinney ‘supports' NHS Fife after trans medic row nurse cleared of misconduct
Scotland's First Minister has insisted he has confidence in the health board at the centre of an employment tribunal brought after a transgender doctor was allowed to use a female changing room at a hospital. Nurse Sandie Peggie complained about Dr Beth Upton being granted access to female changing facilities, and has taken Dr Upton and bosses at NHS Fife to an employment tribunal. As tribunal proceedings resumed on Wednesday, it emerged Ms Peggie has been cleared of gross misconduct allegations following a separate disciplinary hearing by the health board. Scottish Conservative equalities spokeswoman Tess White said: 'This decision confirms what we've known all along – Sandie Peggie did nothing wrong. 'NHS Fife's credibility lies in tatters and senior bosses owe Sandie an immediate and unreserved apology.' First Minister John Swinney however insisted: 'NHS Fife has my confidence and support. 'They've got important work to do to deliver for the healthcare needs people of Fife, and that's what I expect them to.' He said the disciplinary process had 'examined issues about the alleged conduct of Sandie Peggie' and had now 'reached its conclusion'. The First Minister added: 'It is important that these processes are fair to all parties and that is what has been taken forward here and it has reached its conclusion. 'There is obviously an employment tribunal that has been brought by Sandie Peggie that is currently under way. 'It's not appropriate for me to comment on the live proceedings that are under way in that process.' Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton said: 'It's frankly astonishing that John Swinney is still backing this discredited health board to the hilt. 'They've dragged a dedicated nurse through a traumatic disciplinary hearing and tried to cover up the hundreds of thousands they have already squandered on this tribunal. 'SNP ministers have ignored countless warnings that NHS Fife was failing to comply with their legal obligations. 'It raises a serious question, what exactly would this health board have to do to lose the First Minister's confidence? 'Instead of defending the indefensible, John Swinney should finally stand on the side of women and girls and ensure that NHS Fife and other public bodies are following the law by always providing single-sex spaces.'
