Employment Law
Spence Insurance have a specially negotiated facility with Markel International Insurance Company Limited.
Why Insure?
Statistics show most employers are more likely to have an employment claim than a property or third party general liability claim.
In the 2004/5 year there were:
- 86,181 Employment Tribunals
- £22.4million awarded for Unfair Dismissal and Discrimination Claims
- £7,303 on average awarded for Unfair Dismissals
- £14,158 on average awarded for Sex Discrimination
- £19,114 on average awarded for Racial Discrimination
- £17,736 on average awarded for Disability Discrimination
and an increasing number of employers settling out of court.
Employment disputes are becoming more frequent and more costly providing one of the fastest growing areas of corporate liability.
Many companies struggle to get to grips with the ever increasing employment legislation and, however good intentioned, a harmless interview, an employee’s request or just a bad day at the office can frequently lead to a costly employment claim.
The Protection
Employment Law Protection can offer a solution. This will provide insurance cover for employers and fellow employees for:
- The cost and expenses of defending any allegations or investigations
- Any awards made against you
Additional FREE Services
In addition to the insurance cover, as an Employment Law Protection client we are also able to provide you with the following FREE services:
- FREE Employer Helpline with direct access to Employment Solicitors Beachcroft
- Access to Employment Guides and other information via a dedicated website
- Attendance to Beachcroft Employment Seminars
- Quarterly Employment Bulletins helping you to keep up-to-date with employment legislation and information
All of these services are available exclusively to policyholders.
Recent Claims
Unfair Dismissal
A designer who had been sending explicit emails to her lover has won her claim for unfair dismissal. Her employees claim that since she had started sending the ‘offensive’ messages, her standard of work had slipped and she was dismissed for gross misconduct. The tribunal found that her employees had not given her prior warning that her behaviour warranted criticism and ordered the employer to pay her £26,000 in compensation.
Discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation
A homosexual man has been awarded £35,000 compensation after being subjected to sustained homophobic comments by senior management. The tribunal found he had suffered both continuous harassment and direct discrimination on the grounds of his sexual orientation and awarded the compensation including £10,000 for injury to feelings, after finding in his favour.
Disability Discrimination
A street cleaner who was offered a job lifting goalposts after she was left partially paralysed after an operation has been awarded £18,000 compensation. She had asked her bosses for a desk job after she was no longer able to continue as a street cleaner but she was only offered manual work in other departments. When this was refused she felt she had no option but to claim on the grounds of disability discrimination.
Racial Discrimination
An Asian postman was awarded more than £200,000 compensation by a tribunal after facing years of racist abuse and threats from colleagues. He was under severe stress and suffered ill health which forced him to retire early. Despite his repeated complaints of harassment his immediate boss turned a blind eye. It was only when managers installed a hidden camera that some of the culprits were caught and disciplined.
For an Employment Law Protection quotation or for further information please contact:
Spence Insurance, Waverley Street, Bathgate,West Lothian, EH48 4HY
Tel: 01506 632 055
Fax: 01506 632 124
Email: info@spenceinsurance.co.uk
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