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Tribunal WatchEmployment tribunalsSexual orientation

Tribunal watch: Gay man greeted with “hello darling” and limp wrist gesture

by Stephen Simpson 14 Apr 2014
by Stephen Simpson 14 Apr 2014

An employment tribunal ordered an employer to pay £2,000 after finding that a manager’s comments about the claimant’s sexuality, including a greeting of “hello darling” with a limp wrist gesture, were discriminatory. Stephen Simpson rounds up employment tribunal rulings reported last week.

XpertHR resources

Sexual orientation equality: good practice

Diversity policy and procedure

Equal opportunities: a journey to excellence at South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue

“Hello darling” greeting and limp wrist gestures were direct discrimination, but not harassment In employment tribunal decision Callahan v Benchmark Cleaning Services Ltd, a manager’s detrimental comments about the claimant’s sexuality – including a greeting of “hello darling” with a limp wrist gesture – were found to constitute direct discrimination, but not harassment.

Other tribunal decisions in the headlines

Rolls-Royce engineer loses tribunal case on “whistleblowing dismissal” An employment tribunal has dismissed a claim from a senior Rolls-Royce engineer that he was sacked for blowing the whistle on allegations of potentially serious problems with the company’s jet engines, reports The Guardian.

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Director wins right to appeal in fringe wage dispute A theatre director has been given the right to appeal a ruling forcing him to pay five actors the national minimum wage, in a case that The Stage says could have a major impact on the future of the UK’s fringe theatre.

Optical Express tribunal case thrown out Optical Express has been cleared of wrongdoing in an employment tribunal brought against it by a former regional manager, according to Optician.

Stephen Simpson

Stephen Simpson is Principal HR Strategy and Practice Editor at Brightmine. His areas of responsibility include the policies and documents and law reports. After obtaining a law degree and training to be a solicitor, he moved into publishing, initially with Butterworths. He joined Brightmine in its early days in 2001.

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