Interesting Employment Law Cases

In the current social climate of change where our employment landscape is rapidly evolving under new legislation such as AWAs, growth in new sectors such as Mining and record low unemployment (not to mention record low rental vacancy rates!), our search for career satisfaction is fraught with far more complexity and choice than ever before.

We\'ve come across some funny, horrifying and even tragic examples of employment law cases which (we hope) are far outside the norm. May we suggest that there is something to be said for that old saying: \"horses for courses\"?

A Michigan Court of Appeals has ruled that a case worker from a state agency was not fired because of her religion, but because she violated agency rules when she attempted to drive demons from a client who experienced a seizure which lasted 20-25 minutes, instead of calling 911 for medical help.

And, just to show that the USA does not have exclusive rights to unusual workplace litigation:

A Brazilian master brewer has won increased Workers Compensation from the Brahma Brewery near Rio Di Janiero. He testified that his duties as a taster required him to drink up to eight litres of beer a day, causing him to leave work drunk and that he could not return to his job due to alcoholism. He was awarded $US 2millon.

A German court has rejected an unemployed car mechanic\'s claim for four government-paid brothel visits a month to ensure his \"health and bodily well-being\" while his wife was overseas. The court in Ansbach threw out this claim, arguing that unemployment compensation benefits already covered \"everyday requirements\". Under German law, the state pays for his legal expenses, and an observer remarked that \"With the state footing the bill for his appeal, he might as well ask for a live-in hooker\".

And before you think \"thank goodness nothing like that happens here!\" we found this one a little closer to home:

A real estate agent who was denied entry to one of Sydney\'s trendiest bars is seeking $55,000 in damages after security staff at the Establishment refused him entry in 2005. He was eventually allowed access when a female friend escorted him in. He claims the incident left him psychologically damaged and unable to socialise with clients, resulting in loss of confidence and lost revenues as he is no longer able to entertain clients. The tribunal has reserved its decision.

I suppose that cases like these would at the very least make for some interesting research and provide amusement while you type up documents and handle matters! Wonder what else you might be able to try and claim for...