The Lawdown: Employment Law Podcast Series from CM Murray LLP

The Lawdown: Employment Law Podcast Series from CM Murray LLP

By CM Murray LLPBusiness
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The Lawdown: Employment Law Podcast Series from CM Murray LLP episodes

  • Episode 42: Unemployed may get weight-loss jabs; BBC workplace culture review; Benjamin Mendy's claim for £11.5M in unpaid wages

    In our latest episode of The Lawdown, Partners Beth Hale and Emma Bartlett and Associate Kia Aoki discuss the following:

    1. The suggestion by the Government to give overweight people weight-loss jabs to help them get back to work and the potential disability discrimination issues that may arise.
    2. The BBC’s commencement of an independent workplace culture review, with particular focus on the stated aims of the review and the effectiveness of such reviews.
    3. Benjamin Mendy’s claim against his former club, Manchester City, for £11.5 million in unpaid wages, the majority of which was upheld by the Tribunal. We discuss the reason the claim was upheld, comparison with the continued payment of Huw Edwards’ salary after his arrest, and how employers should manage a situation where an employee has been charged with a criminal offence.


      4. We have also included an “addendum” at the end of this episode, in the wake of the allegations against Gregg Wallace which broke just after we recorded this episode. We felt it would be remiss not to mention these, but stay tuned as we will discuss this story in further depth in our next episode.

      We hope you enjoy our latest episode! Please get in touch by emailing us at [email protected] if you would like any information on the topics discussed or if you would like to suggest a story for us to cover in a future episode.

      37 min
    4. Episode 41: Allegations against Mohamed Al-Fayed; Huw Edwards repaying his salary; the “The Dad Shift” campaign to promote paternity leave

      In our latest episode of The Lawdown, Partners Sarah Chilton and Beth Hale and Associate Kia Aoki discuss the following:

      1. The allegations of rape and sexual assault against former Harrods owner Mohamed Al-Fayed. We discuss how organisations should deal with a powerful personality, as well as the extent to which due diligence on a company before it is acquired can bring to light historic sexual assault claims.  
         
      2. The latest developments in relation to former BBC news presenter Huw Edwards and the recent calls for him to return the salary he received from the BBC after his arrest.
         
      3. The campaign run by a group called “The Dad Shift”, which involved statues of famous men such as Thierry Henry and Laurence Olivier having model babies in slings attached to them. The campaign brought attention to the paternity leave entitlements in the UK, which are the worst in Europe. We consider how these poor entitlements impact other areas, including the gender pay gap and societal perceptions of men and women.

        4. We hope you enjoy our latest episode! Please get in touch by emailing us at [email protected] if you would like any information on the topics discussed or if you would like to suggest a story for us to cover in a future episode.

        30 min
      4. Episode 40: Jermaine Jenas’s BBC dismissal; far-right riots & considerations for employers; Starbucks CEO commute via private jet

        In our latest episode of The Lawdown, Partners Sarah Chilton and Beth Hale, Senior Associate Wonu Sanda and Associate Kia Aoki discuss the following:

        1. The dismissal of Jermaine Jenas following allegations of inappropriate behaviour, which has been the latest in a string of scandals surrounding the BBC. We consider the speed with which the BBC took action to dismiss Jenas, the increase of inappropriate behaviour taking place on messaging apps and takeaways for employers.
           
        2. The far-right riots which took place across parts of England and Northern Ireland in August. We discuss what employers can do to support employees in this situation, and how to approach a situation where an employee is involved or suspected of being involved in riots or other antisocial behaviour outside the workplace.
           
        3. The newly appointed Starbucks CEO has made headlines after it was revealed that he will commute from his home to the office via a private jet. We discuss the reputational issues for Starbucks, as well as wider considerations around hybrid working patterns. We also consider the “right to switch off”, which the UK government is planning to introduce, and potential challenges to its implementation.

          4. All 40 episodes are available on various podcast platforms – please click below to listen and subscribe:
          Apple Podcasts
          Spotify

          36 min
        4. Episode 39: Southgate, Gething and US President Biden’s Departures; Strictly Come Dancing Abuse Allegations; Apple Employee Unfairly Dismissed After Taking Pictures of a Female Colleague

          In our latest episode of The Lawdown, Partner Beth Hale, Senior Associate Wonu Sanda and Associate Kia Aoki discuss the following:

          1. The departures of Gareth Southgate as manager of the England men’s national football team, Vaughan Gething as Welsh first minister and President Joe Biden dropping out of the US presidential race. We explore how to determine the right time to leave a role. We discuss key considerations, including reputational issues, bonuses and post-termination restrictive covenants.
          2. BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing is in the headlines after allegations of abusive behaviour towards two of its previous contestants, Amanda Abbington and Zara McDermott. We discuss how the allegations came to light, the role of bystander reporting in investigations and how employees and employers should respond to allegations of misconduct in the workplace.
          3. An Apple employee has been found to have been unfairly dismissed after he shared photos of a female colleague in a WhatsApp group. We consider the increasing openness of employers to engage in tribunal litigation in favour of settling, particularly in cases of sexual misconduct. We also discuss the importance for employers of updating their policies to account for new forms of technology and communication platforms.

            4. We hope you enjoy our latest episode! Please get in touch by emailing us at [email protected] if you would like any information on the topics discussed or if you would like to suggest a story for us to cover in a future episode.

            26 min
          4. Episode 38: Scheffler Arrest - Key Legal Takeaways; Virgin Atlantic Unfair Dismissal Claims; Klopp & Hayes Departures and Publication of Inclusion at Work Report

            In our latest episode of The Lawdown, Partners Beth Hale and Emma Bartlett, Senior Associate Wonu Sanda and Associate Kia Aoki discuss the following:

            1. Scottie Scheffler, the current number one ranked golfer in the world, was arrested and charged with assault of a police officer and three misdemeanours during the PGA Championship. All charges were later dropped. In light of this, we explore when and how employers should take action in regards to an employee’s conduct outside the workplace.
            2. Virgin Atlantic faces allegations of unfair dismissal by over 200 former employees due to its furlough redundancy procedures during Covid-19. We discuss the issues employers may face in a similar situation, and the importance of careful consideration when looking at selection criteria in a redundancy process.
            3. Following the departures of football managers, Jürgen Klopp and Emma Hayes from Liverpool and Chelsea Women’s Football Clubs respectively, we discuss the importance of succession planning in an organisation’s leadership, specifically the importance of getting the messaging right.
            4. The Inclusion at Work Panel has published its report on improving workplace diversity and inclusion. We discuss the report’s findings and recommendations for employers.

              5. We hope you enjoy our latest episode! Please get in touch by emailing us at [email protected] if you would like any information on the topics discussed or if you would like to suggest a story for us to cover in a future episode.

              27 min
            5. Episode 37: Cleaner Dismissed for Eating a Leftover Sandwich; Mason Greenwood's Rumoured Return; Christian Horner's Investigation at Red Bull; Council Worker Wins £4.6 Million in Disability Claim

              We are delighted to share Episode 37 of The Lawdown, our regular podcast discussing the latest key employment, discrimination and partnership law-related news stories, and the interesting legal issues behind them! You can listen to the episode here. 

              In our latest episode of The Lawdown, Partner Beth Hale, Partner Emma Bartlett and Associate Kia Aoki discuss the following:

              1. A Cleaner was apparently dismissed by an employment agency, for eating a leftover sandwich which she believed would be discarded after a lawyer’s meeting at a city law firm. She has reportedly asserted claims  for race discrimination and unfair dismissal, which is supported by her union In light of this, we discuss the expectation of honesty between employers and employees, and the difficulties that may arise in bringing her claim.
              2. There has been speculation that Mason Greenwood, a footballer for Manchester United, may return to the team following the charges of attempted rape and assault being dropped, and an investigation by club management being concluded. We discuss the issues employers may face where an employee is accused of criminal conduct, and factors employers can consider to move things forward.
              3. Christian Horner has been cleared of misconduct after an investigation conducted by Red Bull, whilst the employee who accused him of inappropriate behaviour has been suspended. We discuss the grounds for suspension of an employee during an investigation, and the importance of carefully considered investigation outcomes for employers.
              4. The Hammersmith and Fulham Council were ordered to pay £4.6 million after dismissing a senior employee who suffered Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after working with Grenfell Tower fire survivors. We discuss the key features of the claim, and why the compensation awarded was larger than what is usually awarded by the Employment Tribunal.
                5. 31 min
              5. Episode 36: Ethnicity pay gap reporting; CEO vs worker pay inequality; British Army race discrimination claim & developments in law around industrial action

                In our latest episode of The Lawdown, Partners Beth Hale and Sarah Chilton, Senior Associate Wonu Sanda and Associate Kia Aoki discuss the following:

                1. Recently published statistics reveal that women of Bangladeshi and Pakistani heritage are earning on average almost a third less an hour than white British men in the UK. In light of this, we discuss the importance of ethnicity pay gap reporting and whether it should be made mandatory, and the difficulties and limitations that may arise in producing this data.
                   
                2. The disparity between CEO and worker pay is again making the headlines, following a UK thinktank’s finding that by 1pm on the third working day of the year, a FTSE 100 chief executive will have earned more on an hourly basis than a UK worker’s annual salary. We discuss the issues relating to this disparity, including against the backdrop of a cost-of-living crisis, whether workers should have a say in dictating CEO salaries, and possible alternatives where an employer cannot afford to raise the salaries of its employees.
                   
                3. Dwight Pile-Gray, a Rastafarian soldier in the British Army, won claims of race discrimination, racial harassment and victimisation in the employment tribunal following an incident where a white colleague didn’t believe he was a soldier based on his appearance. We discuss the Army’s handling of the incident, and what employers can do to ensure incidents like this are properly and fairly investigated.
                   
                4. Strikes are still dominating the headlines in 2024. We discuss the legal developments relating to industrial action, including the use of agency workers during strikes and the controversy around the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023, and the implications of these developments for employers.
                  5. 37 min
                5. Episode 35: Justine Blainey - sex discrimination in sport; Man City sued over unpaid wages; Phillip Schofield ITV inquiry; Tesla whistleblowing on self-driving car safety

                  In our latest (interesting and non-Christmas themed) episode of The Lawdown, Partner Emma Bartlett and Senior Associate, Wonu Sanda discuss the following:

                  1. The historical case of Justine Blainey, a teenager, who in the 1980s brought a successful sex discrimination claim in the Supreme Court of Canada, to strike out provisions in the Ontario HR Code which prohibited girls from playing sports with boys, arguing that she should be allowed to play ice hockey with the boys. We discuss how this case parallels the challenges people still face with bullying and sex discrimination in the workplace.

                  2. Benjamin Mendy, a former Manchester City defender is suing for millions of pounds of unauthorised deductions from his wages during the time he was facing criminal charges. We discuss the employer’s obligations and liabilities when dealing with suspended employees facing investigation.

                  3. Following the Phillip Schofield incident earlier this year, ITV’s investigation into his affair and the organisation’s culture highlights that he did not co-operate with the investigation due to concerns for his mental wellbeing. We discuss the implications of this and what employers can do when dealing with witnesses who may be suffering from mental health challenges.

                  4. The Tesla whistleblower, Lukasz Krupski, who leaked data regarding Tesla's braking and self-driving software issues to German newspaper, Handelsblatt, after he felt the concerns he raised internally were ignored by Tesla. We discuss the importance of employers enforcing up-to-date whistleblowing policies and what employers should do concerning mental health issues post-whistleblowing.


                  35 min
                6. Episode 34: Transgender employee wins discrimination claim against employer for ‘deadnaming’; Citibank’s ‘two-sandwich dismissal’ & stereotyping in the workplace

                  We are delighted to share Episode 34 of The Lawdown, our regular podcast discussing the latest key employment, discrimination and partnership law-related news stories, and the interesting legal issues behind them!

                  In our latest episode of The Lawdown, Partners Emma Bartlett and Beth Hale discuss the following:

                  1. The Royal Kingston-upon-Thames Council has been ordered by the Employment Tribunal to pay £25,000 in compensation for, amongst other things, failing to update a transgender employee’s name in their system – this is known as deadnaming. We discuss an employer’s duty of care when supporting gender transition in the workplace and the implications of the Tribunal’s findings on employers.

                  2. Citibank wins an unfair dismissal claim brought by an employee who claimed for two sandwiches and coffees for him and his partner during a business trip. We discuss the relationship of trust and expectation of honesty between employers and employees, particularly in a regulated employment environment.

                  3. Daniel Ogunshakin, a BBC Sports Journalist, retells his story of being told that he must cut his dreadlocks to progress in his career, in light of reports that former Premier League striker Gifton Noel-Williams has had similar experiences whilst attempting to break into football management. We discuss how racial stereotyping and dress and appearance policies in the workplace can potentially give rise to discrimination claims.

                  4. Cardiff University Students' Union bans men wearing blue shirts and chinos from certain club nights. We discuss the issue of stereotyping people based on their appearance.


                  23 min
                7. Episode 33: Wilko mass redundancies; US Open heatwave - is it ever too hot to work?; probation service racism claims; and new attitudes to work study

                  We are delighted to share Episode 33 of The Lawdown, our regular podcast discussing the latest key employment, discrimination and partnership law-related news stories, and the interesting legal issues behind them! 

                  In our latest episode of The Lawdown, Partners Emma Bartlett and Beth Hale and Senior Associate, Wonu Sanda, discuss the following:

                  1. The well-known high street chain, Wilko, going into administration and the resultant, unfortunate mass redundancies. We discuss who bears the responsibility for paying wages, notice and redundancy pay when a company goes into administration and the challenges employees may face when seeking to enforce their rights. We also look at the issues surrounding the establishment of collective consultation rights for employees


                  2. Tennis players struggling in sweltering heat at the US Open and the question of whether it is it ever too hot to work? We answer this and explore the scope of an employer's health and safety obligations in the workplace


                  3. A significant settlement reached in a disturbing case involving racial harassment claims brought by a probation officer. We discuss what constitutes harassment in the workplace and when an employer can be held vicariously liable for harassment perpetrated by a colleague


                  4. A recent study which revealed a surprising trend among Britons, who increasingly view work as less important compared to their global counterparts. We query the reasons behind this shift in attitudes toward work, exploring factors such as work-life balance, aging populations and evolving career aspirations

                  30 min

                About The Lawdown: Employment Law Podcast Series from CM Murray LLP

                From the publisher's feed

                Welcome to The Lawdown, CM Murray LLP's regular podcast bringing you the legal news highlights, particularly those relating to employment, discrimination and partnership law and the UK courts.

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