(Mis)Uses of Technology

(Mis)Uses of Technology

by Blaise Alleyne


Filed Under:
fired, hired, social networks

Companies:
facebook



Hired via Facebook? Fired via Facebook

from the *poke*-you're-fired dept

We've seen stories of people being fired over email and even text message before, but now there's a story of a Canadian spa worker fired via Facebook (via Michael Geist). The woman still got dressed and went to in to work that day because she thought it was a joke. Using Facebook seems rather harsh, though she admits to being hired over Facebook and the firing was done via private message (as opposed to a wall post...), but it's no real surprise that a common method of communication eventually gets used this way. That doesn't mean it's not cruel, but I wouldn't expect it to be an isolated case (we've already seen legal papers served via Facebook). It's got to make you wonder what's next though, fired via Twitter? "@unfortunatesoul btw you're #fired sry"

Blaise Alleyne is an expert at the Insight Community. To get insight and analysis from Blaise Alleyne and other experts on challenges your company faces, click here.

9 Comments | Leave a Comment..

 
 

Reader Comments (rss)

(Flattened / Threaded)

  1. Jan 8th, 2009 @ 4:11pm
    by Neel

    LOL. firstcomment. this is too funny though

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  2. Jan 8th, 2009 @ 4:25pm
    by mslade

    I have a comment to make on this article, but I will submit it via Facebook.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  3. Jan 8th, 2009 @ 6:15pm

    Did someone say twitter?

    I would love to get fired via twitter.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  4. Jan 8th, 2009 @ 7:45pm
    by Dave

    Can we fire "first comment" people from the internet?

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  5. Jan 9th, 2009 @ 1:38am

    Re:

    I prefer the method they have on Fark.com to an outright ban... The words "first post" are filtered to say "boobies" or "weiners", and the timestamp moved so that they're no longer the first post. Childish, but it seems to stop most people from trying it more than once.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  6. Jan 9th, 2009 @ 3:59am
    by CMG

    This is pathetic. Tell the boss to grow a pair and do it in person.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  7. Jan 9th, 2009 @ 6:24am

    Laid off by phone

    by Anon

    Four years ago I was laid off via a phone call on my mobile whilst on holiday. Needless to say there was no warning, nor period of staff consultation as required by UK law... an employment tribunal found in my favour!

    I wish I had been watching my former boss for his reaction when the verdict was handed down!

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  8. Jan 16th, 2009 @ 6:33pm

    Really??

    by Crystal Bell

    Too bad this wasn't in the UK...I was told I don't have anything...

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  9. Sep 16th, 2009 @ 12:20pm
    by Anon

    I've had freelance clients fire me via twitter.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

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