A driver who took to Twitter in May this year after hitting a cyclist with her car has been convicted and fined by Magistrates in Norwich. Emma Way tweeted that she “Definitely knocked a cyclist off his bike earlier. I have right of way – he doesn’t even pay road tax! #bloodycyclists”. Her tweet quickly … Continue reading
Tag Archives: Expert
High definition – behind the scenes at ITV
I won’t be too upset if you haven’t seen me already, but I have recently become a bit of a TV star. Well, ‘star’ is perhaps pushing it slightly: I’ve been on The Alan Titchmarsh Show. Yes, he’s the gardener who sells apples for Waitrose. I didn’t realise he had a daytime show either -don’t … Continue reading
All the world’s a stage (or a life of P.I.)
It may have been ten years since I completed my training contract and last worked in a high street firm, but as I took my seat at the Donmar Warehouse theatre recently, all too many memories came rushing back. As soon as I entered, the vast set stood proud in familiar shades of magnolia and … Continue reading
A winter’s tale: fuel poverty is a reality for millions
Fuel poverty has been in the news recently, with both the Labour and Conservative parties speaking out against rising prices. In 2011, there were estimated to be 4.5 million fuel poor households in the UK, representing 17% of the population, and this figure is expected to have risen since then. Fuel poverty is a … Continue reading
Cold calling – Britain starts fighting back
In my first weekly appearance on The Alan Titchmarsh Show I joined journalist Fiona Foster to discuss the growing problem of cold calling, especially for the elderly and vulnerable (view below). New research Which? suggests that in June this year, an estimated 700million nuisance calls were received by people in the UK. Calls range from live … Continue reading
Dismissed buttock-tweeting rugby star awarded £150,000 damages
A Yorkshire rugby star sacked after a photo of a teammate’s bottom appeared on his Twitter feed has been awarded almost £150,000 for wrongful dismissal following a hearing in Leeds. Keith Mason has been awarded significant damages after his former Rugby Super League club Huddersfield Giants, for which he had played seven seasons, dismissed him … Continue reading
NZ employee ordered to disclose Facebook pages
A flight attendant in New Zealand who was dismissed for allegedly ‘pulling a sickie’ has been ordered to disclose her Facebook entries for the period. Air New Zealand claimed that the employee, Gina Kensington, had fraudulently claimed 2 days’ pay for time she said she was caring for her sister. Ms Kensington took her case to … Continue reading
Has Elvis left the building? Making sure dismissed employees actually leave
I joined BBC World Business Edition on 5 August 2013 (video below) to discuss the curious case of KK Ho, a redundant employee who reinvented himself as a bonds salesman on the trading floor. Mr Ho was given time to find new employment after being made redundant from his management role in the Property Maintenance … Continue reading
Tesco: every twitter helps?
A senior Tesco manager who tweeted that shutting five depots was an example of “awsome teamwork” and #worldclass has come under fire in Westminster. Distribution Director Steve Strachota sent the tweet about the re-structuring of Tesco distribution centres which will see thousands of posts transferred with some quite possibly at risk of redundancy. The depots facing closure are … Continue reading
How sick must a sick tweet be?
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Kier Starmer, has now published its final guidelines stating how offensive a comment must be to justify police and prosecution time. There are already concerns that the guidance will not go far enough to prevent the growing phenomenon of online ‘trolls’. Starmer has said that prosecutors must respect and recognise freedom … Continue reading