Apple sacks worker over Facebook comments
If you are a user of social media sites like Facebook, Twitter
and LinkedIn, you may think that you are free to use them to
express your opinions about your employer, whether good or bad.
However, you may want to think again...
The Employment Tribunal has recently upheld the decision of
computer giant Apple to dismiss an employee who repeatedly posted
negative comments on Facebook about his iPhone and his job at one
of Apple's stores.
Samuel Crisp, whose claim for unfair dismissal was heard in Bury
St Edmunds, was sacked after a colleague who was also a Facebook
friend alerted bosses to the posts.
Apple's social media policy very clearly bans any criticism of
its brand and the company's staff are expected to abide by it. The
Tribunal found that Mr Crisp's posts were 'not truly private and
could in fact have been forwarded very easily with the claimant
having no control over this process'. The potential damage to
Apple's brand was taken into consideration.
The panel concluded that the decision to dismiss Mr Crisp,
though harsh, was justified.
The message to all employees is very clear - be careful what you
say on social media sites - in a world where social media is
becoming increasingly influential, your life outside work isn't
always a private one.
If your employer has taken action against you over comments made
on social media sites, you may wish to take legal advice.