Employment law update – Policeworker is sacked for psychic beliefs ( but of course he knew that would happen! )
A police worker, who was sacked because he believed psychics can help solve criminal investigations, is defending his right to legal protection from religious discrimination. In the first case of its kind, Alan Power, a trainer with Greater Manchester Police, will rely on a previous judgment that found his belief in mediums who contact the dead is akin to a religious or philosophical conviction.
Legal experts said the landmark Nicholson case, where Tim Nicholson successfully argued that green beliefs were the same as religious beliefs, could open the floodgates to thousands of claims brought by those with strong environmental views who are victimised or discriminated against in the workplace. Yesterday lawyers said the Power case showed how wide the equality at work regulations had been drawn.
Stats corner
| National Minimum Wage | |
| (reviewed each October) | Hourly Pay Rate
£5.80 from 1 October workers aged 22 and older £4.83 from 1 October workers aged 18 to 21 £3.57 from 1 October workers aged 16 to 17 |
| Maternity/Adoption Pay |
SMP/SAP is paid for 39 weeks
Pay rate for first six weeks of SMP: 90% of the employee’s average weekly earning SMP remaining weeks/SAP: £123.06 or 90% of average weekly earning, whichever is less |
| Paternity/Partner’s Pay |
SPP is paid for two weeks
Pay rate: £123.06 or 90% of average weekly earnings, whichever is less |
| Sick Pay | £79.15 per week |
| Redundancy Pay | Pay rate:
0.5 week’s pay for each year of service for employees aged under 22 (a week’s pay is £380) 1 week’s pay for each year of service for employees between the ages of 22 and 40 1.5 week’s pay for each year of service for employees aged 41 and older |
| Tribunal Compensation Limits | Limits on Pay: 1 day £21.50 1 week £380
Unfair Dismissal Compensatory Award: £66,200 Breach of Contract : Maximum Award : £25,000 |