Employment Tribunal
This coverage examines the role and impact of Employment Tribunals within the UK retail sector. Employment Tribunals serve as the primary judicial body for resolving disputes between workers and employers over employment rights, including claims of unfair dismissal, discrimination, and wage disputes. Recent cases highlight the tribunals’ influence on retail operations, such as rulings on equal pay and workplace conduct. Our reporting provides insights into how these legal proceedings shape employer practices, employee relations, and broader industry standards within the retail landscape.
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Mar- 2021 -26 MarchSupermarkets
Court rules against Asda in equal pay case
The Supreme Court has ruled that Asda’s shop floor staff can be compared to workers in the supermarket’s distribution centre for the purposes of their equal pay claim. Back in January 2019, the Court of Action also ruled that GMB members could compare themselves in this fashion, upholding the rulings…
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Aug- 2020 -5 AugustSupermarkets
Sainsbury’s signs EHRC agreement
Sainsbury’s has signed a legally binding document with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) after it was found liable for sexual harassment against an employee. According to the EHRC, Sainsbury’s “willingly” agreed to sign the legal agreement, which is otherwise known as a section 23 agreement under the Equality…
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Jun- 2020 -18 JuneComment
Temperature checking employees – don’t get your fingers burnt in an employment tribunal
As lockdown eases, retailers are looking closely at sensible practical measures that they can implement to help minimise the risk of Covid-19 spreading within workplaces. Many lessons have been learnt from the experiences of essential retailers who have either stayed open throughout the pandemic, or who have now reopened their…
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Apr- 2020 -28 AprilComment
Furlough – what next?
The Government’s Job Retention Scheme was set up urgently to support employers and protect employees during lockdown. Such state intervention, unprecedented in the UK, is designed to facilitate a quick rebound of the economy once business activity resumes. But as the crisis drags on, the lockdown has already been extended…
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Oct- 2019 -7 OctoberClothing & Shoes
Clarks wins unfair dismissal case against former CEO
Clarks has won its legal battle against its former CEO Mike Shearwood who claimed unfair dismissal, after an employment tribunal sided with the shoe retailer. Shearwood launched a legal battle against the company after he was ousted last year following “conduct, conversations and expressions fell short” of company expectations. Shearwood…
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Sep- 2019 -30 SeptemberHigh Street
Former Clarks CEO launches legal battle over misconduct claims
The former CEO of shoe retailer Clarks has launched a legal battle against the company, after he was ousted last year following “conduct, conversations and expressions fell short” of company expectations. According to the Sunday Times, Mike Shearwood claims he was ousted on “trumped-up charges” of racist and sexists comments,…
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Jun- 2019 -11 JuneSupermarkets
Sainsbury’s fails to get Equal Pay claims struck out
An employment tribunal has rejected Sainsbury’s argument that equal pay claims for store staff should be struck out. Following the judgment of the Birmingham Employment Tribunal, the claims worth thousands of pounds for each client, and millions in total, will continue to a hearing. Law firm Leigh Day is representing…
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Mar- 2019 -4 MarchAnalysis
Evolving employment laws – the future of workers’ rights
Since 2010, the UK has experienced lower unemployment rates across every region, underpinned by a strong and innovative labour market that has seized on the opportunities offered by new technologies, emerging business models and changing ways of working. Wages are currently growing at their fastest pace in almost a decade,…
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Jan- 2019 -31 JanuarySupermarkets
Asda loses equal pay claim battle
The Court of Appeal has upheld the ruling that Asda store staff can compare their roles with those in the supermarket giant’s distribution centres in legal claims over equal pay. The Walmart owned Asda appealed the two previous rulings they lost, both of which found that lower paid shop workers,…
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Nov- 2018 -14 NovemberHR
Law firm launches equal pay claims against Morrisons
A law firm has launched its first batch of equal pay claims in an employment tribunal with Morrisons, on behalf of female workers based in the supermarket chain’s distribution centres. Leigh Day is representing a group of women who believe they have been paid less than their male counterparts at…
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