Employment Blog: Executive Takes firm to Employment Tribunal over LinkedIn Firing

Known as the 'Facebook for professionals' Linkedin is one of the most popular social networking websites (if it can be classified as that) but John Flexman, 34, is pursuing his former employere for a large six figure compensation award after they believed that he had broken company policy.  He had been told to remove “...all information regarding BG Group except for job titles and dates". "I did not think this was reasonable," he explained to the tribunal.

BG Group have claimed that Flaxman had broken company policy as there was a conflict of interest by notifying other companies he was open to job offers.  He did this by uploading his CV and posting that he was interested in “career opportunities.” 

Should he win the case Flaxman is likely to be the first person in the UK to receive compensation for constructive dismissal over what has been posted on a social networking site. While the case continues it will be interesting to discover whether an HR manager succeeds in winning such a landmark case.

If you are worried about your company's social networking policy, or think you have been forced out of your job, call our employment team today on 0808 155 9070 or make an online enquiry. From a commercial point of view, if you are worried about your businesses employment procedures contact Lorna Valcin today to safeguard your firm from employment tribunals.