Equality, diversity and human rights
In Asda Stores Ltd v Raymond, the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) upheld the tribunal decision that the employer's failure to conduct a reasonable investigation and to take reasonable care during the disciplinary process made the employee's dismissal unfair. The EAT also upheld the tribunal's ruling that his dismissal arose from his disability.
In Williams v Trustees of Swansea University Pension & Assurance Scheme and another, the Supreme Court held that an employee, whose working hours had been reduced to accommodate his disability, was not treated "unfavourably" when his enhanced pension on ill-health retirement was based on his final part-time salary, rather than his full-time salary.
In Awan v ICTS UK Ltd, the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) held that an implied term of the contract of employment prohibited the employer from dismissing the employee for medical capability while he was entitled to receive long-term disability benefits.
In Wood v Durham County Council, the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) held that the employee's tendency to steal was a manifestation of his disability and an excluded condition under the Equality Act 2010 (Disability) Regulations 2010.
In Evans v Xactly Corporation Ltd, the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) upheld an employment tribunal's ruling that calling a salesperson a "fat ginger pikey" in a working environment with a culture of "jibing and teasing"; was not harassment under the Equality Act 2010.
In Matier v Spring & Airbrake Ireland Ltd, a Northern Ireland industrial tribunal awarded £3,155 for age discrimination to a jobseeker who was told that a prospective employer was "looking for a younger person".
In James v Coedffranc Community Council, an employment tribunal upheld an unsuccessful job applicant's age discrimination claim after an interviewer said "I've just noticed how old you are" and jotted down older candidates' ages on interview notes.
In Lee v Ashers Baking Co Ltd and others, the Supreme Court held that a Christian bakery did not commit direct sexual orientation discrimination in the provision of goods and services when it refused to fulfil a cake order with a message in support of same-sex marriage.
In Saad v Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust, the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) held that the primary question, when deciding if an employee acted in bad faith, is whether or not the employee acted honestly in making the discrimination allegation, not the employee's ulterior purpose.
In X v Y Ltd, the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) held that an email containing legal advice on how to disguise a discriminatory dismissal as a redundancy is not protected by legal advice privilege and is admissible as evidence in a tribunal.
Employment law cases: HR and legal information and guidance relating to equality, diversity and human rights.