Nurse wins £41,000 after being excluded and ignored at work
A nurse deliberately excluded from tea rounds and ignored by a colleague has won £41,000 for constructive dismissal. Mrs Hamilton, a diabetes specialist at Epsom and St Helier NHS Trust, resigned in January 2022, citing bullying and poor management.
A dispute with dietitian Mr Nayeck led to years of workplace hostility, including ignored greetings and alleged personal abuse. Despite mediation and complaints, the trust failed to resolve the situation. Employment Judge Kathryn Ramsden ruled in Hamilton’s favour, recognising the trust’s failure to act, leading to her resignation due to stress and loss of trust.
The rise in low-paid jobs pushes more UK workers into poverty
The number of UK jobs paying below the real Living Wage surged to 4.5 million in 2024, an increase of 800,000 from 2023, according to the Living Wage Foundation. Nearly one in six jobs (15.7%) now fall below this voluntary rate, which is £12.60 per hour outside London and £13.85 in London.
The hospitality sector saw the highest low-paying jobs (53.6%). Northern Ireland had the most low-paid jobs regionally. Despite more employers adopting the real Living Wage, rising costs have outpaced wage growth, leaving many workers struggling with in-work poverty.
UK bank IT outages disrupt payday access, prompt MP scrutiny
Thousands of UK bank customers faced login failures and payment delays on payday due to TSB, Nationwide, First Direct, and Lloyds Banking Group IT outages. This marks the second consecutive month of major banking disruptions, raising concerns among MPs.
With the ongoing shift to digital banking and widespread branch closures, critics argue that customers remain vulnerable to tech failures. Regulators demand accountability, while consumer groups urge affected users to track losses for potential compensation. Banks insist they are working to resolve issues quickly, but pressure for stronger safeguards continues to mount.