ARTICLE · 21 AUGUST 2013

Employee connects on LinkedIn, gets disconnected from job

Clayton Utz

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Some employees wrongly believe that no matter what they post on social media, it has nothing to do with their employers.

AustraliaEmployment and HR

Michael Byrnes (Formerly With Clayton Utz)

Author LinkedIn connections

Key Points:

Some employees wrongly believe that no matter what they post on social media, it is always a private matter and nothing to do with their employers.

The Fair Work Commission has upheld an employer's dismissal of an employee for attempting to solicit his employer's clients through LinkedIn in an effort to expand his own private business.

Bradford Pedley v IPMS Pty Ltd T/A peckvonhartel [2013] FWC 4282 illustrates the potential pitfalls of an employee pursuing out-of-work activities that are incompatible with his or her duties to an employer, and is a reminder that:

employees' private use of social media can lead to adverse consequences for their employment; and

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