Brisbane man ‘fired for being too fat’

Melbourne, May 19 (ANI): A Brisbane man has claimed that he was sacked from his factory job for being morbidly obese and has lashed back at his former employers.

According to News.com.au, Lance Pedersen, 57, was fired from his job at Golden Circle”s Northgate factory on Monday after he was deemed unfit to perform duties which he says were not part of his initial job description, The Courier-Mail reports.

“It pretty well shattered me; it”s turned my life upside down. My partner and I have got a mortgage . . . it”s hard to survive on just one wage,” News.com.au quoted Pedersen as saying.

Pedersen, a forklift worker, who says he has lost 8kg in recent times, was told he would be moved to work on the beverage line to pack and monitor drinks when workers took their lunch breaks.

But after undergoing the company’s medical test, he has been declared unfit, reasons being obesity and severe osteoarthritis of the knees.

Mr Pedersen, who spent 14 years with the company, has filed for unfair dismissal with Fair Work Australia, claiming his employer gave him no warnings about his health, which had never been a problem before.

“He”s more than capable of doing the job he was originally employed to do, in fact he could do it tonight.

“He”s got a report from his own GP, who says he is well aware of his condition and he is more than capable of doing the job he”s been employed to do,” said Duncan Pegg, The National Union of Workers organiser.

A spokesman for Heinz Australia, which owns Golden Circle, explained that the company had to look after their employees’ health and so couldn’t let Pederson work at the plant anymore.

Pederson on the other hand has argued that if he’s let off the hook on medical grounds, no other company would be ready to employ him in the first place.

“If I went to another place to seek employment I”d have to disclose that Golden Circle put me off on medical grounds. As soon as you say that, the other place will just say: sorry, we don”t need you.” (ANI)

News Ltd boss ‘beat up editor’s ineptitude’

Senior executives at News Limited have been accused of exaggerating and inventing stories to support the dismissal of the former editor-in-chief of Melbourne’s Herald Sun newspaper.

Bruce Guthrie is suing the company for nearly $3 million in an unfair dismissal case.

Both News Limited and the former editor have again been urged to settle out of court.

Acting for Mr Guthrie, Norman O’Bryan SC today went on the attack.

He accused News Limited chief executive John Hartigan of “beating up” tales of Mr Guthrie’s ineptitude to support his dismissal.

Mr O’Bryan said the company had no evidence of a drop in sales of the Herald Sun or that it lagged behind while Mr Guthrie was at the helm.

He went on to accuse Mr Hartigan of not warning the editor of insidious attempts to get rid of him by the managing director Peter Blunden.

Of all three men, Mr O’Bryan argued Mr Guthrie was the most credible witness.

“Unlike Hartigan and Blunden, he never went behind backs. He never privately or secretly conspired to harm anyone else,” he said.

News Limited told Mr Guthrie he had zero future with the company, but the court heard Mr Hartigan had offered to find him more work a day after he was fired.

In ending his contract, Mr Guthrie’s counsel argued he had been robbed of opportunities with both News Limited and the global empire of News Corp.

The judge has reserved his decision and again urged both parties to settle out of court or risk being found to have lied.

Lawyer ‘fired for writing erotic novel’ sues ex-bosses for £3.5m

London, April 27 (ANI): A lawyer, who was fired by her bosses for penning a racy online novel, is suing her ex-employers for 3.5 million dollars.

Deidre Clark, 44, a former senior associate for international finance at Allen & Overy, has levelled charges of sexual discrimination and unfair dismissal against the firm.

However, firm bosses have rubbished her claims.

Clark posted erotic fiction under the pseudonym ‘Deidre Dare’ online; the website also contained snaps wherein she was sporting a see-through lingerie.

She lost her 126,000pound-a-year job in the firm’s Moscow office in February 2009 for “gross misconduct” after her site – narrating the sexcapades of a fictional high-flying young businesswoman – allegedly brought the firm into disrepute.

And now Clark, an American, who is now a “sexpat” columnist for the English-language Moscow News newspaper, is dragging the firm to court claiming 3.49 million pounds in damages.

Allen & Overy, which employs 5,500 people across the globe, said it would “vigorously defend” the allegations.

In papers tendered to Stratford Employment Tribunal, in east London, Clark said her boss, Tony Humphrey, 60, became “sexually obsessed” after both of them got intimate at a staff party.

“I believe my dismissal was purely a matter of sexual persecution by my superior,” she said.

She also said her online novel Expat was a “weekly serialised novel about living in Moscow””.

While admitting that the book was partly autobiographical, Clark maintained it had nothing to do with her co-workers and peers at the firm.

She also claimed the right to publish the novel.

“We are aware of (Miss Clark”s) employment tribunal claim,” the Telegraph quoted a spokesman for the firm, as saying.

He added: “We are entirely satisfied that the termination of her employment was justified and lawful and will defend Ms Dare”s claim vigorously.” (ANI)

Heather Mills says she treated ex-nanny ‘like a daughter’

London, March 31 (ANI): Heather Mills has slammed her former nanny Sara Trumble for betraying her and dragging her to an employment tribunal, insisting that she treated her “like a daughter”.

Trumble, 26, is claiming undisclosed damages on grounds of discrimination over maternity leave, sex discrimination and unfair dismissal.

However, Mills said the ex-nanny’s allegations were motivated by money.

She even accused Trumble of outright lying.

“Sara won”t look at anyone in the eye because she is lying,” the Telegraph quoted Mills, as saying.

While Trumble admitted she accompanied Mills to Slovenia with her other staff and pals to celebrate her 39th birthday she said the behaviour of the Dancing on Ice star changed after her split with Sir Paul McCartney.

Trumble said: “I wasn”t the only person who felt that at that time. It”s just that nobody else will stand up. I decided to take action and fight this for myself.”

Mills told the panel she asked the former beauty assistant to babysit her daughter after she found Trumble was earning a mere 20pounds a week for giving massages at Hilden Health Club in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

Mills said: “Overly helpful Heather, I offered her some way to help her better herself as I thought she had huge potential.”

She went on: “I wasn”t demanding and that”s always been my problem… she actually worked the least hours of all my staff, I was the softest on her of all my staff.”

“I do not accept that I discriminated against Sara in any way or that I treated her unfairly. I therefore have drawn the regretful conclusion that Sara has made these allegations against me purely to make money.”

She added: “I am still devastated by her claims and feel that I”ve been deeply betrayed by someone who I considered a dear friend, not just an employee.” (ANI)

How Heather Mills tortured her ex-nanny with her diva-like demands

London, March 30 (ANI): Heather Mills” former nanny Sara Trumble has revealed how she had to bear the diva-like antics of Sir Paul McCartney”s ex wife.

Trumble, 26, told an employment tribunal that the Dancing on Ice star left her a “rude” voicemail rant on Mothers” Day.

The message asked Trumble to come to work even as she was on maternity leave and had a difficult pregnancy.

She also claimed a suspicious Mills, 42, questioned her over whether a new male pal had been flirting with her.

Trumble, who quit after she was replaced as a nanny and assigned cleaning duties, is claiming undisclosed damages on grounds of discrimination over maternity leave, sex discrimination and unfair dismissal.

Mills, mum to McCartney”s daughter Beatrice, six, could be seen quite disconcerted as Trumble gave evidence before a panel of three in Ashford, Kent.

She shook her head and murmured “no, no” when Nick Fairweather, representing Trumble, called upon the tribunal to accept evidence Mills was a known “liar”, referring to her High Court divorce ruling. However, the panel dismissed it as “not relevant” to the case.

The panel was told how Trumble met Mills in 2003 at a health club in Rye, East Sussex, where the ex-nanny was working as a beauty therapist.

Mills asked if she would babysit Beatrice for her and McCartney, 67, in the evenings at their nearby home.

“I thought Heather was really nice and genuine and the two of us got on very, very well,” the Sun quoted Trumble, as telling the tribunal.

In April 2004 she took up the job of a nanny with Mills, who paid her 260pounds a week cash-in-hand on a self-employed basis five days a week.

Trumble said: “She told me how much she trusted me with Beatrice. I thought it was a good opportunity and I fancied a change.”

She went on: “I bring these proceedings with much sadness as I saw Heather as a friend. Heather can be very generous, but there was also a distrustable and unpleasant side of her.

“She likes to surround herself with people who will support her blindly. She is also very highly strung. I do believe that Heather is more than capable of lying and getting others to lie for her.

“I believe I was sidelined, perhaps as I was no more use to her.”

Trumble began work at the McCartneys” home in Peasmarsh, Sussex, while Mills was still the former Beatles” wife.

She said she and Mills had a “close personal relationship” and that her boss even bought her a new car – a sporty two-seat Daihatsu Copen.

Mills separated from McCartney in 2006.

Trumble said: “She was very bitter towards him. I was, I believe, a great source of comfort and support for her at this time.”

But their relationship turned sour when Trumble returned from six months” maternity leave after giving birth to a baby girl.

She said she was asked to come to Mills” house – while still on leave in 2007 – to record a video interview.

Trumble said: “I was asked to tell them how wonderful I thought Heather was. I felt I”d no option.”

Mills allegedly called her and angrily asked when she would resume her duties.

Trumble said: “It was a really horrible, rude message, and it reduced me to tears.” (ANI)

Former council boss denies corruption

Former chief executive of Light Regional Council, Peter Beare, has entered not guilty pleas to corruption charges.

Beare is charged with two counts of abusing public office to use information to secure a benefit.

He is alleged to have pressured a debt-ridden woman to sell her land when he knew it was about to be re-zoned and likely to rise in price.

Beare denies the charges and his civil claim against the council for unfair dismissal has been held over pending the outcome of the criminal case.

His lawyer told the District Court in Adelaide there were discussions with the prosecution about a possible resolution.

The matter is set to return to court for a closed hearing in May.

PCB sacks chief operating officer Salim Altaf

Lahore, Sep 1 (ANI): The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has sacked its chief operating officer Salim Altaf.

PCB chairman Ijaz Butt was no longer interested in keeping Altaf in the board due to his poor management skills, erratic behaviour and intrigues, sources said.

“The termination letter has been sent by PCB director human resource Wasim Bari to Salim,” sources said.

Salim was appointed the chief operating officer when Ijaz took reins of the PCB after Nasim Ashraf resigned following resignation of former President Pervez Musharraf.

Shafqat Naghmi was shown the door and Salim was named in his place. The ouster of Salim is the third high profile dismissal in the PCB after sacking of chief selector Abdul Qadir and assistant coach Aaqib Javed from their respective posts.

“Seven out of nine PCB governing board members have signed the removal summary of Salim. The summary states that Salim’s services are no longer required by the board,” the Daily Times quoted sources, as saying.

The ‘sharp differences’ between Salim and Ijaz had reached their peak for the last couple of months. Ijaz had taken all powers of the chief operating officer in his hands and Salim, like a dummy official, was drawing only salary from the board.

“The decision to fire Salim was in the offing as Ijaz had enough of him. The two were not even talking to each other for quite some time. Relations between Ijaz and Salim started getting sour when the latter confronted the chairman twice on taking unilateral decisions and not taking other officials into confidence.”

Salim told reporters yesterday he had not received any termination letter from the board as yet. “I reserve the right to pursue legal action against the board for this unfair dismissal of my services,” Salim maintained. (ANI)

‘Kate Winslet’ sex-text boss slapped with sexual harassment suit

London, March 18 (ANI): A City fund manager has been slapped with a sexual harassment suit after allegedly trying to lure a female employee with text messages that compared her to the actress Kate Winslet.

Nadine Nassar claims that her former boss Guy Oppenheim used to bombard her with late night phone calls, and compelled her to attend sessions of Kabbalah, ancient Jewish mysticism, for more than a year.

She told the Central London Employment Tribunal that married Oppenheim compared her to Hollywood star Kate Winslet in his messages, which he would often send after 10pm.

She said that one of the messages read “Je t’embrasse”, French for I kiss you.

The 36-year-old, from Chelsea, West London, alleged that the 55-year-old chief executive sacked her from her 136,000-pounds-a-year job with investment firm Notz Stucki after she resisted his advances.

“It was clear that Mr Oppenheim wanted to start a relationship that went beyond friendship,” the Telegraph quoted her as saying.

“He was calling me late in the evening to have general chats and it was never about business. After hanging up, he would send me a message asking if I was asleep,” she added.

Meanwhile, Oppenheim claimed that Nassar had a “total lack of understanding of how financial markets work” and was “not up to the job”.

Nassar has filed a lawsuit against Notz Stucki for sex discrimination, sexual harassment, unfair dismissal and victimisation, and wants 400,000 pounds compensation. (ANI)

Sacked Muslim cop called “f***ing Paki” to sue UK police dept for racism

London, Mar. 10 (ANI): A Muslim cop has claimed that he was forced out of his job after his colleagues referred to him as “f***ing Paki”, and poked fun at his beard.

Former PC Javid Iqbal alleged that Bedfordshire police officers of white ethnicity told him that they were superior to him, and hence forced him to walk home from jobs instead of sending a police car to pick him up.

The Sun quoted Iqbal, as saying, “My beard is an important part of my religion, my identity and my life. There is no other reason for me having a five-inch beard. I am proud of it and it was never a problem in the 18 months I served as a special constable.

I devoted myself to the force voluntarily before I became a PC. I believed in putting something back into society.”

Iqbal had just returned to work after nine months leave on full pay with depression when he was given the boot for poor performance.

Bedfordshire Police stated: “A student officer’s services were dispensed with in August 2008 on grounds of capability.”

However, Iqbal claimed that he was sacked by Bedfordshire Police after fellow officers launched a “smear campaign” making complaints about his performance.

He said officers gave “negative statements” to superiors about him, including an allegation he failed to help a colleague arresting a violent man. He was cleared when CCTV showed he was dealing with other people.

“I’m disgusted I was bullied because of my beliefs. I’ve no doubt institutional racism played a part in this. White officers used to pull faces when they were asked to go on patrol with me,” he said.

He will put his case to an employment tribunal, claiming religious and racial discrimination plus unfair dismissal, saying that shortly after he joined a PC training course in 2006, he became a victim of racial abuse. (ANI)

Randy boss to pay #46k to boob-job barmaid over ‘disrespectful’ remarks

London, Mar 7 (ANI): A barmaid, who went under the knife for a boob job, could get a whopping 46,000 pounds, after she complained that his boss asked her if he could “stroke her puppies”.

Landlord Stephen Hughes regularly made crude remarks at Mandy Butler, and even simulated sex behind her as her daughter looked on.

Butler, 42, told an employment tribunal that she had been depressed about her flat chest, and thus boosted her bust to a 38D.

However, after returning to work at the Paddock pub in Cantley, South Yorks, she found herself at the target of Hughes’ “extremely upsetting, derogatory and disrespectful” remarks.

According to the Daily Star, it is alleged that Hughes, 50, pestered Butler to let him touch her breasts and when she refused, said: “I can’t believe you have spent #3,500 on them and won’t let me have a feel.”

Kevin Bolton, 26, one of the regulars at the pub, said that Hughes would talk openly about the barmaid’s breasts or backside “every five minutes”.

Butler said that despite of asking her boss to stop making rude remarks, the comments got worse.

She said: “He gave the impression that he felt he was above the law, that it was his pub and he could do what he wanted.”

Later, Butler was sacked at a staff meeting without warning after she got into a row with a customer and slapped him across the face.

Although Hughes accepted that her dismissal was unfair, he claimed his sexual remarks were just “banter”.

Sheffield employment judge Richard Williams ruled that he had violated Butler’s dignity.

Butler has won a claim for sexual discrimination, harassment and unfair dismissal against Hughes and brewery bosses.

And the panel still have to decide her payout, which could be around 46,000 pounds. (ANI)

Vettori clears the air with Haddin ahead of MCG ODI

Melbourne, Feb.5 (ANI): New Zealand cricket captain Daniel Vettori’s text messaged Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin to clear the air following the glove affair in Sunday’s one-day match, and both players are happy to move on.

Kiwis skipper Vettori told Haddin he in no way intended to refer to the wicketkeeper as a cheat, after questioning his role in the dismissal of batsman Neil Broom, which replays showed should have been no-balled because Haddin’s gloves were in front of the stumps.

Haddin thanked Vettori in a reply text and said he would also like to put the incident behind them. Earlier that day, Haddin had attacked Vettori for questioning his integrity.

Fox Sports quoted Australian captain Ricky Ponting as saying Haddin had received “an apology” from Vettori yesterday but the Kiwis denied this.

For them, it was a gesture to clear the air rather than apologise for what they deemed an unfair dismissal, with Broom ruled to have been bowled by Michael Clarke, despite camera angles suggesting Haddin’s gloves broke the stumps. (ANI)

Brit barmaid drags pub boss over sexual harassment

London, Jan 27 (ANI): A Brit pub boss allegedly harassed a barmaid sexually after she had a boob job.

Mandy Butler, 42, alleged that she was hassled by Stephen Hughes, 50, for nine months after she had a 3,500 pounds op to boost her breasts to a 38D.

According to her, he would even grab her hips from behind and “gyrate like Tom Jones”.

“Your puppies look like they need stroking,” a tribunal was told as to what Hughes said to Butler.

Butler said that Hughes would often make suggestive remarks to her, and even did it in front of others.

“I would love to use your t**s as pillows,” the Sun quoted her as recalling what he said to her.

“He made sexually inappropriate remarks, usually when he was drunk.

“One time, in front of customers and my daughter, who worked there, he grabbed me and simulated sex from behind.

“I couldn’t quit as I needed the money,” she added.

Kevin Bolton, 26, a regular at The Paddock pub in Cantley, was witness to the gross acts.

“The comments were vulgar,” he said.

Hughes denied making inappropriate comments of a sexual nature.

“I never behaved in a bad way,” he said.

Butler, who was sacked last April, claims sexual harassment and discrimination, and unfair dismissal.

The Sheffield tribunal reserved its decision. (ANI)