The recent case of Dubai-based UK recruitment consultant, Rebecca Blake, has shown how an employee’s social life can impact on their professional life.
Ms Blake found herself in a compromising situation in a taxi home with fellow Brit Conor McRedmond after a party in the middle-eastern city. Having been arrested and released on bail pending trial, she was sacked by her employers.
It is important to bear in mind that UK employees working abroad can be covered by UK employment laws. Where this is the case, it will be easy to dismiss an employee fairly where he or she is no longer legally allowed to work in the country. However, it will be more difficult where an employee has not yet had any work permit removed or been proved guilty of their crime, or where an employee’s crime does not impact on their ability to do their job.
Either way, employers would be wise to proceed with a bit more caution that Ms Blake and Mr McRedmond showed in back of the taxi that night!