Hired via Facebook? Fired via Facebook

from the poke-you're-fired dept

Thu, Jan 8th 2009 3:14pm — Blaise Alleyne

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"

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Filed Under: fired, hired, social networks
Companies: facebook

9 Comments

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Neel, 8 Jan 2009 @ 4:11pm

LOL. firstcomment. this is too funny though
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mslade, 8 Jan 2009 @ 4:25pm

I have a comment to make on this article, but I will submit it via Facebook.
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Rizwan, 8 Jan 2009 @ 6:15pm

Did someone say twitter?
I would love to get fired via twitter.
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Dave, 8 Jan 2009 @ 7:45pm

Can we fire "first comment" people from the internet?
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PaulT (profile), 9 Jan 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.
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CMG, 9 Jan 2009 @ 3:59am

This is pathetic. Tell the boss to grow a pair and do it in person.
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Anon, 9 Jan 2009 @ 6:24am

Laid off by phone
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!
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Crystal Bell, 16 Jan 2009 @ 6:33pm

Really??
Too bad this wasn't in the UK...I was told I don't have anything...
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Anon, 16 Sep 2009 @ 12:20pm

I've had freelance clients fire me via twitter.
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