Teen sacked after saying her job was 'boring' on Facebook (From Gazette)

Teen sacked after saying her job was 'boring' on Facebook

8:00am Thursday 26th February 2009 in

By Sonia Elks »

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A TEENAGE office worker has been fired for branding her job boring on Facebook.

Kimberley Swann’s comment on the social networking website cost her job as an office administrator at Ivell Marketing & Logistics in Clacton.

Union leaders have defended the 16-year-old by saying snooping on personal conversations is unhealthy and urged employers to grow thicker skins.

Miss Swann, 16, was handed a letter informing her she was being sacked when her bosses found out about it.

The letter said: “Following your comments made on Facebook about your job and the company we feel it is better that, as you are not happy and do not enjoy your work we end your employment with Ivell Marketing & Logistics with immediate effect.”

Stephen Ivell, owner of Ivell Marketing Logistics, said the Stephenson Road West company has done everything by the book.

He said: “It is just a shame that it did not work out because she is a lovely girl.

“For a small company, when a decision is made, one thinks long and hard about it.”

He said he was unable to comment on whether Miss Swann had been involved in the decision-making process.

He added: “I am very comfortable that we have not made a bad decision.“ Miss Swann, of Clacton, said she was shocked to be taken into the office on a Monday morning and told she was being sacked because of the Facebook comments.

She said: “I did not even put the company's name, I just put that my job was boring.

“They were just being nosy, going through everything. I think it is really sad, it makes them look stupid that they are going to be so petty.

“I was an office administrator, so of course it was boring at first, and I knew it would get more interesting.

“I was happy there, although they said I was not.

“It is not fair, I think it is really out of order, but there is nothing I can do.”

Her mother Janette Swann, added: “I think it is disgusting.

“The company did not even approach her and ask her to explain herself.

“It is not nice to look back on Facebook and report something that is personal.

“It should not be allowed.”

Brendan Barber, TUC general secretary, said: “Most employers wouldn't dream of following their staff down the pub to see if they were sounding off about work to their friends.

“Just because snooping on personal conversations is possible these days, doesn’t make it healthy.

“Employees need to be more aware of how they protect their privacy online, and employers need to recognise they employ real people, not robots and should grow slightly thicker skins.

“Employers and employees need to sit down together, through unions or other consultations, and work out a reasonable policy on what is expected of staff in their conduct online.”

Comments(44)

Nobnee says...
8:37am Thu 26 Feb 09

Big brother is watching us......