Bizarre query of the week!

"The son of one of our longest serving employees has recently been sent to prison, something which has been all over the news. Many of our staff members and our clients have picked up on this and it is being talked about throughout the workplace.

I am worried about the potential implications this could have on my company’s reputation. Can I dismiss this employee?"

What Peninsula say:

This is a tricky one. Dismissal for somebody else’s conduct may potentially be fair but will depend entirely on the facts. Whilst it is understandable you are worried about your company’s reputation, the employee has not committed any crime nor any form of misconduct themselves so a dismissal is likely to be unfair. Ask yourself if you are prepared to lose an otherwise valued employee. Arguably, by standing by them, you can send a message to your other staff members that you will be there to support them during difficult times.