Although the EAT has not yet provided guidance on dealing with social media-related conduct issues, there are some elements of a recent decision that employers can learn from, writes Kevin Poulter An employee dismissed for posting ‘banter’ on Facebook several years before initially succeeded in his claim for unfair dismissal, but that decision has now … Continue reading
A sports team employee in America has been fired after apparently sending a tweet from the wrong account. Local reports state that the unnamed employee was dismissed by the Texas Rangers American Football team after tweeting “Fire Charlie” – a reference to the University of Texas team’s head coach – after a disappointing game for … Continue reading
A hospital worker may be declared unfit to practise medicine after a series of messages sent through Twitter came to light. Paul Nam, under the pseudonym ‘Sir Cockhardt’, a former United Lincolnshire Hospital Trust worker, tweeted such comments as, “I was going to save the pubes from the first patient I shaved today and stick … Continue reading
I was invited to join the BBC’s Your Money programme (video below) to discuss the introduction of employee shareholders under the Growth and Infrastructure Act 2013. Although the provisions are introduced from 1 September 2013, there remains some uncertainty about how they will change we work and how many employers will embrace them. In essence, this is … Continue reading
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
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
Following a freedom of information request by think tank Parliament Street, it has been reported that a DVLA civil servant has been dismissed for breaching the ban on using social media whilst at work, even though he was using his own phone. Details have also been disclosed about 3 other employees from the Swansea based Driver and … Continue reading
It has been reported that a serving police officer who sent offensive tweets following the death of Margaret Thatcher has resigned his position. Metropolitan Police Sergeant Jeremy Scott, had taken to Twitter to make ‘unacceptable’ comments. He is reported to have said that he hoped Lady Thatcher’s death was “painful and degrading”, was “87 years … Continue reading
It has been reported that 17 year old Paris Brown has now resigned from her position. The’youth police commissioner’ in Kent has come under intense scrutiny following the discovery of offensive tweets after only 3 days in the job. Initially it was thought that Paris Brown would remain in her post despite the now-deleted tweets … Continue reading
The Guardian has reported that the Justice Secretary, Chris Grayling, has issued instructions that probation officers face the risk of disciplinary action if they publicly criticise him or his plans on Twitter or other social media. The ban follows the announcement of Grayling’s controversial plans to outsource 70% of the probation officers’ work with offenders. The gag … Continue reading
Kevin Poulter 