Legal
New Ruling on Harassment at Work
(I'm indebted to Daniel Barnett for circulating news of this important decision)
The Court of Appeal has decided on Veakins v Kier Islington Ltd, a case dealing with the extent of duty of employer under Protection from Harassment Act 1996
"Disclosures" v "Allegations"
What is a "disclosure" of information in a protected disclosure? The Employment Appeal Tribunal issued a decision on 11 November 2009 in Cavendish Munro v Geduld (click here for downloadable copy of the judgment ) which provides that for a person to make a protected disclosure they must disclose information about a situation by conveying facts. It is not sufficient to merely make an allegation.
Increase in Vento damages
HHJ McMullen QC, giving judgment in Da'Bell v NSPCC held that Vento damages (for injury to feelings in discrimination cases) should be increased to reflect inflation as follows:-
• lower band: £ 5,000 to increase to £ 6,000
• middle band: £ 15,000 to increase to £ 18,000
• upper band: £ 25,000 to increase to £ 30,000
Source: Daniel Barnett
New Constructive Dismissal Judgment
The EAT has given judgment that helpfully clarifies the relationship between a successful claim for constructive dismissal and the way the (constructively dismissed) employee felt about the way he or she was treated prior to the dismissal.