Tribunal watch: Unfair dismissal of manager “forced to dress up as Santa”

An employment tribunal has held that a manager was constructively dismissed after he was forced to dress up as Father Christmas. Stephen Simpson rounds up employment tribunal decisions reported in the past week.

Dow Jones worker “made to dress as Santa” wins unfair dismissal case
A 53-year-old man who said he was forced to dress up as Father Christmas and branded an “old buffer” has won his claim for unfair dismissal, reports the BBC.

The former Dow Jones accounts manager told an employment tribunal that he was forced out of the company by treatment at the hands of his female line manager.

While the tribunal upheld his claim for constructive dismissal, it rejected his sex and age discrimination claims.

Other tribunal decisions in the headlines

Darlington’s Star Radio criticised for airing sexual content
An employment tribunal has concluded that a radio station had a reputation for disgusting on-air behaviour, but cleared it of sexually harassing a former employee, the BBC reports.

£38,000 tribunal win for Sky staff member accused of being racist
A Sky worker has been awarded almost £40,000 by a Dundee employment tribunal after bosses at a call centre wrongly sacked him in a racism row, according to the Scottish Courier.

Amputee security guard wins damages from defence company
A one-armed security guard has won damages for unfair dismissal after a tribunal ruled he suffered discrimination while working for a defence firm, according to the Wales Online.

Prison bosses feared chaplain could die from blood loss if he was attacked
A prison chaplain was sacked as his bosses feared a bloodbath if he was attacked by inmates, because he was on a blood-thinning drug following a heart attack, says the Scottish Herald.

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Tayside road workers win unfair dismissal case against Bear Scotland
Bear Scotland has been ordered to pay £25,000 to employees it monitored through covert surveillance, the Scottish Courier reports.

Stena Line dismissed Belfast docker after “vicious assault”, tribunal hears
A tribunal has heard that a gay Belfast dock worker, who was awarded £45,000 for harassment and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, was rightfully sacked because of a “vicious assault”, says the Irish Times.