An international sports incident has once again sparked debate over disciplining employees for out-of-work misconduct.
HR managers enter murky waters when disciplining employees for out-of-hours misconduct – but one UK employer has waded in after a worker was recorded in a compromising video.
Finance worker Josh Parsons has been suspended by his employers – the Business and Commercial Finance Club – after he was identified in a shocking clip which is making waves throughout Europe and the rest of the world.
Unacceptable abuse
The footage, which many soccer fans may have already seen, shows a pack of Chelsea Football Club supporters refusing to let a black man on board a Paris train while chanting; “We’re racist, we’re racist and that’s the way we like it, we like it, we like it.”
As of yet, there has been no suggestion made that Parsons was directly involved in the incident itself but he is considered a key witness and employers say the 21-year-old will not return to work until an investigation has been carried out.
A spokesperson for the company, based in the prestigious area of Mayfair, London, said: "We are utterly opposed to racism in all of its forms and would never tolerate racist conduct among any employee.”
Legal insight
Employment lawyer Brian Wasyliw told HRM that employers are well within their rights to discipline or dismiss an employee whose behaviour – out of hours or otherwise – reflects poorly on the company.
“Generally speaking, courts and arbitrators recognise that employers do have the ability to exercise some discipline over off-duty conduct,” he said. “The most obvious example would be when there are public statements made or a public action is taken that clearly reflects very poorly on the company or employer.”
