Employers hit by rise in litigation

Pub operators are likely be hit hard by increases in compen-sation payments, trade leaders are warning. Increases in tribunal awards, announced last week, mean that employers now face a maximum £61,300 pay-out for unfair dismissal. FLVA chief executive Tony Payne revealed nearly a quarter of his workload is being taken up with employment and indust-rial tribunal issues. He said a growing litigation culture was seeing increasing numbers of clued-up pub staff suing licensees. "Employers have to remember that staff are far more aware of their rights nowadays and many are being encouraged to seek redress," he said. "I am getting in the region of 70 enquiries each month from licensees about employment matters." Payne said unfair dismissal issues dominated his case load, although sexual discrimination matters and employment cases brought by staff when pub businesses changed hands were showing a marked increase. Howard Lewis-Nunn, a lawyer at City law firm Berwin Leighton Paisner, urged licensees to keep up to date with changes in employment law. "Employees are becoming more clued-up and it can be more and more difficult for employers to keep up with the law," he said. Michael Ball, employment partner at law firm Halliwell Landau, said even a minor claim for sexual harassment could land a licensee a bill for thousands. "Damages for injured feelings claims on even run-of the-mill harassment cases generally fall between £500 and £5,000, " he said. FLVA top five bust-ups

1. ‑Unfair dismissal ­ mainly through employers failing to follow the correct disciplinary procedures. 2. ‑Breach of contract. 3. ‑Transfer of undertakings ­ staff rights when a pub business changes hands. 4. ‑Sexual discrimination ­ equal pay, maternity issues, sexual harassment. 5. ‑Working time regulations ­ maximum hours, holiday pay issues.