You're fired - an employment lawyer's view of The Apprentice

The popular TV programme The Apprentice ended with the decision by Sir Alan Sugar to select Lee McQueen as his apprentice but the programme raises some interesting employment issues in the view of Andrew Lightburn, employment law expert at Shulmans.

Andrew, pictured left, says that the programme has been littered with episodes of bullying and harassment.

Andrew says "At one point, one of the male competitors turned on one of the women for not pulling her weight. He laid into her in front of the other competitors. If this were a real workplace, she would have a clear harassment grievance to take to a tribunal.

"Similarly, one of the competitors, Michael, was trashed in the boardroom by Sir Alan, who challenged him to prove he was a "nice Jewish boy" by dropping his trousers. That is a clear act of religious discrimination. In a real life situation, he would win compensation of maybe £5,000 and the manager found guilty of discrimination would be fired."

"Nor would any boss these days get away with sacking employees in the Sir Alan Sugar manner. Criticising them openly in front of others would be seen as harassment and simply sacking them by shouting 'You're fired' can't be done without serious repercussions."

For further information on this or any employment issue contact Andrew Lightburn on

0113 297 8925 or by email at alightburn@shulmans.co.uk

This extract first appeared in an article published by the Yorkshire Post on 12th June 2008.

News date 12th June 2008