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Sex discrimination
A woman who was dismissed for sexual misconduct while her male partner was demoted for the same misconduct, was unlawfully discriminated against, rules an Aberdeen industrial tribunal (Chair: D I Morgan) in Hume v Compass Services (UK) Ltd.
An employer who instructed staff at a jobcentre to supply only female applicants for a vacant receptionist post acted unlawfully, holds a Leicester industrial tribunal (Chair: D R Sneath) in Equal Opportunities Commission v Bull t/a Arkwrights Night Club.
In Meade-Hill and another v The British Council, the Court of Appeal holds that the inclusion of a mobility clause in a married woman's contract of employment constituted indirect discrimination against her as a woman under the Sex Discrimination Act 1975.
In Stadt Lengerich v Helmig (15 December 1994) EOR60A, the European Court of Justice rules that there is no discrimination contrary to European Community law where a collective agreement provides that overtime supplements will be paid only when the normal working hours for full-time employees are exceeded.
A woman whose absence resulting from IVF treatment was treated as part of her sickness record for redundancy purposes was unlawfully discriminated against on the grounds of sex, rules an Ashford industrial tribunal (Chair: G W Davies) in Robinson v London Borough of Greenwich.
Being a woman was a genuine occupational qualification for the post of regional manager with "a specialist ladies' lingerie retailer", rules a Reading industrial tribunal (Chair: M C Craft) in Rowson v Contessa (Ladieswear) Ltd.
A woman who was called a "dumb bastard" by her managing director was not less favourably treated than a man would be treated, and general office banter which was no more offensive to women than to men could not be regarded as sexual harassment, says a Manchester industrial tribunal (Chair: P J Russell) in Smith v Bowater Labels Ltd.
In Cooke v University of Nottingham and Iacovitti a Nottingham industrial tribunal (Chair: D R Sneath) rules that a woman whose job application was rejected because she had two young children was unlawfully discriminated against on grounds of sex.
A female trainee whose complaint of threats of violence and harassment by a fellow male trainee was not properly investigated by the college principal was unlawfully discriminated against on grounds of sex, rules a Newcastle upon Tyne industrial tribunal (Chair: P G Rennie) in McGuiness v Finchale Training College.
An employer who asked jobcentre staff to advertise a job as being one for a "lad" because it involved heavy lifting acted unlawfully, rules a Birmingham industrial tribunal (Chair: J G Haslam) in Equal Opportunities Commission v Grays Retailing Ltd.
Employment law cases: HR and legal information and guidance relating to sex discrimination.