In Mr K Ahmed v National Westminster Bank Plc a former analyst who was sacked for selling sex work online has successfully sued NatWest for unfair dismissal.
Karim Ahmed was fired after bosses discovered he was running a self-help sex and relationship website called Agile Love, which linked to a site called Skin Map that featured explicit pictures of himself.
The Skin Map site, which Ahmed also harnessed to promote “sensual massages” for £25, was linked to his LinkedIn profile that also showed he worked for the bank.
The website described the business as having an “airy Brighton office with free car parking”. Ahmed accepted in evidence that he had never asked permission to use his employer’s address for his business.
NatWest feared that his extra-curricular activities could harm the bank’s reputation.
An employment tribunal in Croydon agreed that the bank’s reputation could have been harmed by the link to Mr Ahmed’s sex work and dismissed his claims of disability discrimination.
Though the tribunal ruled in Ahmed’s favour, he will receive no compensation, for the judge concluded that he would have been fairly sacked if the rules had been properly followed.
This 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 judgments made in every aspect of the case. 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, we 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.
