This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2013/jan/21/financial-times-editor-criticised-employment

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Financial Times editor criticised by tribunal over unfair dismissal Financial Times editor criticised by tribunal over unfair dismissal
(35 minutes later)
The Financial Times editor, Lionel Barber, has been criticised by an employment tribunal judge over the unfair dismissal of an award-winning journalist at the title.The Financial Times editor, Lionel Barber, has been criticised by an employment tribunal judge over the unfair dismissal of an award-winning journalist at the title.
Personal finance writer Steve Lodge was sacked in October 2012 following an incident on a staircase when he bumped into Alice Ross, the FT's currencies correspondent, while he was carrying a crate.Personal finance writer Steve Lodge was sacked in October 2012 following an incident on a staircase when he bumped into Alice Ross, the FT's currencies correspondent, while he was carrying a crate.
An employment tribunal in London found on Monday that Lodge had been unfairly dismissed.An employment tribunal in London found on Monday that Lodge had been unfairly dismissed.
The judge, Lindsay Hall-Smith, said that Barber had "adopted an approach from the outset which had attributed the entire responsibility" to Lodge and was unwilling to consider any other possibility.The judge, Lindsay Hall-Smith, said that Barber had "adopted an approach from the outset which had attributed the entire responsibility" to Lodge and was unwilling to consider any other possibility.
The judge added: "The decision to dismiss the claimant [Lodge] had been predetermined by Lionel Barber and the process had been characterised by a blinkered view and a rush to judgment, taking account of historic matters which had been the subject of an express agreement to wipe the state clean."The judge added: "The decision to dismiss the claimant [Lodge] had been predetermined by Lionel Barber and the process had been characterised by a blinkered view and a rush to judgment, taking account of historic matters which had been the subject of an express agreement to wipe the state clean."
Barber told the tribunal during a six-day hearing that the principle reason for Lodge's dismissal was "that he did not express regret".Barber told the tribunal during a six-day hearing that the principle reason for Lodge's dismissal was "that he did not express regret".
The judge said this was unreasonable and that Barber "essentially took on the role as advocate for Alice Ross, rather than adopt an open-minded approach to the disciplinary hearing".The judge said this was unreasonable and that Barber "essentially took on the role as advocate for Alice Ross, rather than adopt an open-minded approach to the disciplinary hearing".
A further tribunal hearing will be held to determine the amount of compensation liable to be paid to Lodge. The journalist sought £200,000 based on estimated losses since his dismissal.A further tribunal hearing will be held to determine the amount of compensation liable to be paid to Lodge. The journalist sought £200,000 based on estimated losses since his dismissal.
Lodge had been employed at the paper since 1989 and had won two industry awards for journalism as savings writer of the year in 2008 and specialist personal finance journalist of the year in 2011. Lodge had been employed at the paper since 2006 and had won two industry awards for journalism as savings writer of the year in 2008 and specialist personal finance journalist of the year in 2011.
The National Union of Journalists challenged the dismissal on Lodge's behalf and described the ruling as a "damning indictment" on Barber and the paper's human resources procedures.The National Union of Journalists challenged the dismissal on Lodge's behalf and described the ruling as a "damning indictment" on Barber and the paper's human resources procedures.
Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary, said: "This is a very important case and victory for the NUJ. It sends out a strong message to employers that we will not let our members be treated unfairly and that we will hold employers who act in this way to account.Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary, said: "This is a very important case and victory for the NUJ. It sends out a strong message to employers that we will not let our members be treated unfairly and that we will hold employers who act in this way to account.
"Steve is to be congratulated for his tenacity in pursuing this case and putting on record the injustice meted out by the FT and its management.""Steve is to be congratulated for his tenacity in pursuing this case and putting on record the injustice meted out by the FT and its management."
The FT had not responded to a request for comment at the time of publication.The FT had not responded to a request for comment at the time of publication.
• To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".• To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".
• To get the latest media news to your desktop or mobile, follow MediaGuardian on Twitter and Facebook• To get the latest media news to your desktop or mobile, follow MediaGuardian on Twitter and Facebook