(qlmbusinessnews.com . Sat 6th Sep, 2025) London, UK —
Accountancy Administrator Wins Landmark Case Against Unwarranted Internet Surveillance Dismissal
An employment tribunal in the United Kingdom has ruled in favor of an accountancy administrator, awarding her over £14,000 for being unjustly sacked for browsing online for less than an hour during work hours. The tribunal found that her online activities on websites like Rightmove and Amazon were not deemed “excessive.”
The individual, only referred to as Ms A Lanuszka in the judgment, was dismissed from her position at Accountancy MK in July 2023 after the firm's owner, Ms Krauze, used surveillance software to monitor her internet use, discovering she had engaged in personal browsing.
However, Employment Judge Michael Magee found Ms Lanuszka's termination to be unwarranted, highlighting that she was targeted for dismissal before acquiring two years of service – at which point she would gain full employment rights under UK law. The judge noted there were no specific policies against personal use of the internet at work, mentioning that the employer, Ms Krauze, had similarly engaged in personal computer use during office hours.
Further examination revealed that a significant portion of the tracked online activity pertained to professional development, including Excel training. Judge Magee criticized the reliance on diary entries provided by Ms Krauze, which were penned in 2024, to assert performance issues in the years prior, suggesting a premeditated effort to document supposed performance concerns.
Ms Lanuszka initially joined the firm in 2017, signing a new contract in September 2021 when the business underwent a name change. The controversial surveillance occurred over two days in July 2023, totaling one hour and 24 minutes of personal internet use, a quantity the judge deemed not excessive in light of the circumstances.
This landmark ruling underscores the considerations employers must take when monitoring internet use and the protections employees have concerning unfair dismissal, emphasizing the importance of clear workplace policies and fair treatment.
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