LinkedIn CV case adjourned for construction exec

Professional networking site LinkedIn has more than 100 million members across the globe

RELATED ARTICLES: Construction manager 'forced out' over LinkedIn CV | Lack of standards harming GCC region's CV sector | General manager Mike Richardson departs RAK Cement

A Buro Happold HR manager who claims he was forced out of his previous job for ticking a box entitled ‘interested in other career opportunities’ on professional networking website LinkedIn, has had his employment tribunal hearing adjourned.

John Flexman, 34, told an employment tribunal his employers at gas explorers BG Group were livid when they saw his profile on the popular curriculum vitae site.

Flexman was head of recruitment based in the south of England for the firm, where he earned some $106,000 per annum.

Story continues below

Advertisement

FEATURED COMMENT I empathised with John's "constructive dismissal" case and felt he has exercised his legal right to claim his entitlemen   3 Comments Read more comments »

After uploading his CV and ticking the ‘interested in other career opportunities’ box, he was contacted by his manager while on holiday in the USA.

Flexman faced an internal disciplinary hearing for serious misconduct upon his return, where BG Group bosses accused him of inappropriate use of social media and revealing sensitive and confidential company information.

Feeling his position had become untenable, Flexman then resigned from his high-powered position at the Reading, Berkshire firm in June last year. According to Flexman's LinkedIn page, he is now employed by construction firm Buro Happold in England.

Flexman is accusing the BG Group of constructive dismissal, a legal term used when someone quits their job because they feel their employer's behaviour has made life so difficult they have no other choice but to resign.

If he is successful in his claim, which could be worth around half a million dollars, his case would be the first in the United Kingdom in which a person brings a constructive dismissal claim over details placed on LinkedIn.

The hearing is due to resume at Reading Employment Tribunal in England on Tuesday, 15 May later this year.