The Importance of the Lie

19.06.2008

Published Times Online 19th June 2008

Employment lawyers everywhere are proffering advice on the implications of lying on a CV after the success of Lee McQueen on The Apprentice. Here’s a sample, from Adam Solomon, barrister at Littleton Chambers: “In every contract of employment, there is an implied term of mutual trust and confidence. If an employee has lied on a CV or an application form, that might undermine the employment relationship, enabling the employer to take disciplinary action up to and including dismissal.” It all depends, he says, on the importance of the lie. If someone applying for a job with a law firm lied about having a law degree he should be summarily dismissed, Solomon says. Misleading an employer about the length of time at university is “less serious”. And it all depends on when the lie is discovered. If during the interview, the candidate is unlikely to be offered the job. “But if a relatively insignificant lie is discovered after many years of distinguished and impeccable employment, a dismissal at that point is more likely to be unfair.”