Employee use of information and communication technology

New and updated

• Date:

  19 March 2013

  Type:

  Law reports

  Social media: B&Q worker unfairly dismissed for Facebook comments about workplace

  The employment tribunal held that the claimant was unfairly dismissed for comments on Facebook about his workplace, although his compensation was reduced by 50%.

• Date:

  19 March 2013

  Type:

  Law reports

  Social media: employee fairly dismissed over "Dante's Inferno" Facebook comments

  The employment tribunal held that the claimant was fairly dismissed after making threats on Facebook to a colleague who had reported him to the employer for his frequent references to his workplace as "Dante's Inferno".

• Date:

  7 November 2012

  Type:

  Law reports

  Handling of allegations that employee posted confidential information on LinkedIn leads to constructive dismissal

  This case involves poorly handled disciplinary action against an employee for allegedly posting confidential information about company losses on his LinkedIn profile.

• Date:

  26 April 2012

  Type:

  Law reports

  Call-centre worker fairly dismissed for offensive Facebook comments about colleague

  A Northern Ireland industrial tribunal has provided a useful example for employers of circumstances in which it can be fair to dismiss an employee for offensive comments made about a work colleague on Facebook.

• Date:

  12 January 2012

  Type:

  Law reports

  Employee emailed pornographic video by lying manager was unfairly dismissed for inappropriate use of work computer

  In this unusual case, an employee was dismissed for offensive material on his computer despite the fact that his manager, who lied during the disciplinary process, had been aware of some of the material and even emailed him a pornographic video at work.

• Date:

  1 September 2011

  Type:

  Law reports

  Employee who commented on Facebook that she worked "in a nursery" was unfairly dismissed

  An increasing number of tribunal cases involve employees making work-related comments on Facebook. This case shows that derogatory comments will by no means always justify dismissal.

• Date:

  8 June 2011

  Type:

  Law reports

  Employee unfairly dismissed for frequent use of mobile phone at work

  This case involves an employer that, rather than deal with problems with an employee's behaviour and attitude by giving him a series of warnings, used them as an excuse to dismiss him.

• Date:

  14 April 2011

  Type:

  Law reports

  Aston Villa unfairly dismissed football historian who had supported club for 60 years

  In this case, a Premier League football club unfairly sacked its football historian, who had supported the club for over 60 years.

• Date:

  31 March 2011

  Type:

  Law reports

  Abusive Facebook comments led to pub shift manager's dismissal

  In this case, an employee's inappropriate use of Facebook after a workplace incident led to her summary dismissal. 

• Date:

  9 February 2011

  Type:

  Law reports

  Facebook page criticising employer did not justify dismissal

  Employees' entries on social media critical that are of their employer will not always justify dismissal, as this case demonstrates.