Airbnb manager said he was unlawfully fired despite ‘very positive’ performance review

A former Airbnb manager has taken legal action against Airbnb Ireland Unlimited Company, alleging unlawful dismissal despite receiving a positive performance review. Jonathan Pugliese, who led the company’s premium French support team in Ireland, claimed his termination in July was abrupt, unprofessional, and breached Airbnb’s own policies.

Airbnb established its European, Middle East, and Africa headquarters in Dublin in 2016, now employing around 400 staff at its North Wall Quay offices. Pugliese initiated High Court proceedings on July 29, seeking to invalidate his dismissal and secure continued salary and bonus payments. He also sought to prevent Airbnb from filling his position and claimed damages for emotional suffering, breach of contract, and reputational harm.

Judge Siobhán Stack granted an interim injunction on July 29, preventing Airbnb from replacing Pugliese while the case was ongoing. When the matter returned before Judge Michael Twomey on August 6, it was confirmed that the case had been settled out of court, allowing the injunction to be lifted. Pugliese has since updated his LinkedIn profile to reflect his departure from Airbnb.

In his affidavit, Pugliese stated he joined Airbnb on August 25, 2025, on a contract of indefinite duration, having previously worked at Apple and Amazon. His role as premium support delivery manager for the French market included a base salary of €90,000, restricted stock valued at $55,000 (€47,000) vesting over three years, and a salary increase to €91,500 after six months.

Pugliese passed his six-month probation period in February with a “very positive” performance review. His contract allowed for termination with one month’s notice but permitted summary dismissal only for gross misconduct, with a right of appeal. He stated no concerns were ever raised about his performance, nor was he placed on a performance improvement plan.

On July 15, Pugliese attended a performance discussion with a human resources manager, where he was informed his performance was “not up to expectations” and his employment would end immediately. His access to internal systems was revoked, and he was told there would be “no room for discussion.” Maxime Quantin, a regional manager, later confirmed the dismissal in an email, citing “ongoing unsatisfactory performance” following “careful consideration.”

Pugliese expressed shock at the allegations, stating they were never discussed in detail. He refused a settlement offer involving a “modest” ex-gratia payment, calling the process “unprofessional, disrespectful, and in breach of Airbnb’s own policies.” He argued that Airbnb failed to follow its procedures, including issuing verbal warnings before dismissal, and that the termination lacked factual justification.

Both Pugliese and Airbnb declined to comment on the case.

#Airbnb #Dublin #EmploymentLaw #UnfairDismissal #JonathanPugliese #HRpolicies #NorthWallQuay #TechIndustry