Disclosures made purely for self-interest were not protected

In Parsons v Airplus International Limited, Parsons (P) was a Legal and Compliance Officer. After warnings about her poor performance were unheeded, she was dismissed six weeks into the role because of a ‘cultural misfit’. The EAT agreed with the ET that she had not been dismissed for whistleblowing.
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Protection against detriment or dismissal for whistleblowing applies where a worker makes a disclosure in the public interest that one or more of six specified wrongdoings has taken place. In Parsons v Airplus International Limited, Parsons (P) was a Legal and Compliance Officer. After warnings about her poor performance were unheeded, she was dismissed six weeks into the role because of a ‘cultural misfit’. The EAT agreed with the ET that she had not been dismissed for whistleblowing. The concerns she had raised about non-compliance were solely made in P’s self-interest, i.e. protecting herself against personal liability, and were not in the wider public interest.  In any event, the reason for P’s dismissal was her inability to explain her concerns, her failure to listen to others, her rudeness and she had “left behind burnt soil pretty much everywhere after only six weeks in the job”.


This update provides summary information and comment on the subject areas covered. Where employment tribunal and appellate court cases are reported, the information does not set out all of the facts, the legal arguments presented and the judgements made in every aspect of the case. Click on the links to access full details. If no link is provided, contact us for more information.  Employment law is subject to constant change either by statute or by interpretation by the courts. While every care has been taken in compiling this information, SM&B cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. Specialist legal advice must be taken on any legal issues that may arise before embarking upon any formal course of action.

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