Comments on: Fired on Facebook?! Can you do that?

By: Nikki LeStat

Nikki LeStat — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 16:47:35 +0000

OK — Even though most states (including mine) are basically “at will” employment states, there needs to be a limit on the way employers are allowed to deal with employees.

It should NEVER be acceptable, either ethically OR legally, to deal with any employee via e-mail or social network messaging services when it comes to any disciplinary action. This is not a professional way to handle this kind of business matter, and reflects VERY negatively on any company whose managers are allowed to do so.

Employers — “Man up” to your obligations. This behaviour definitely shows the world a lack of common decency and ethical standards. In today’s floundering economy, is it worth the negative impact on company image?

By: Ian

Ian — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 21:24:56 +0000

It should have been handled in a professional manner, in person, at the salon- not by use of a public online social networking tool. This is clearly an example of cowardice in a manager, who is probably not equipped to manage. Being fired over the phone is also pretty cowardly.

By: Janet

Janet — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 21:12:34 +0000

Different things need to be considered here as, employment at will, if there was a contract, etc… I don’t think that for 2 weeks anything would happen. Does an employer (by law) have to have a reason to fire an employee?

By: Julia

Julia — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 20:57:37 +0000

I agree, the manager was not a strong manager. Part of being a manager is confronting people head on to resolve & to make changes. I feel that the manager that sent the Facebook message should be written up or terminated for lack of doing their job and grossly effecting the employee negatively.

By: Pat

Pat — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 20:48:56 +0000

Debra’s comments may or may not be true. There is no such thing as permanent employment as the thousands of people in recent lay-offs can tell you. I work in an at-will state. The company doesn’t have to give a reason for letting you go. They cannot let you go for an illegal reason such as age/race descrimination.

By: HR in Atlanta

HR in Atlanta — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 20:40:00 +0000

I am not sure of the laws in British Columbia, but here (USA) you can be fired without just cause. In fact, some states are “Employment at Will” states which means you can be fired at any time with or without a reason; however, if an employer acts in an illegal manner regarding the termination, legal action can still be pursued.

I think Crystal Bell should be glad she found out in two weeks what type of company she was working for as opposed to having been there quite a while only to find out that the person managing the place would be so cowardly as to terminate someone electronically.

By: Rob

Rob — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 20:39:05 +0000

Actually, in any state with ‘employment-at-will’, a staff member can be terminated for cause or for no cause. This story is in British Columbia, and I don’t know what the employment laws are like up there.

Either way, I think Facebook is a cheesy cop-out of a medium to terminate someone. I always make a point of at least sitting down with the employee and doing it face-to-face. You do have to be careful about what you say or put in writing, however, as THAT is the stuff that lawsuits are made of.

By: Rob

Rob — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 20:38:48 +0000

By: Michelle

Michelle — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 19:46:07 +0000

Our society has become much to impersonal. I believe it is a courtesy to be told in person, that way the employee can ask why, how they could have changed or possible defend themselves in case it is a matter of wrong information. Employeers/Managers should be able to do the bad jobs with the good and not use the most impersonal ways available to them to avoid them.

By: Mark

Mark — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 19:41:40 +0000

Tell her to get over it and get another job.