Would you fire an employee for a Facebook rant?
Published 11:43 am Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Ashley Johnson didn’t think twice about complaining on Facebook about a rude customer she served at Brixx Pizza in Charlotte.
“Thanks for eating at Brixx, you cheap piece of **** camper,” she wrote on Facebook.
Oops.
Now, Ashley doesn’t have a job. She was fired when her employer found out about the comment, which was aimed at couple who stayed at the restaurant for hours and left a $5 tip.
Brixx said the comment violated a policy against saying disparaging things about customers.
Ashley told the Charlotte Observer she apologized. “I did write the message. But I had no idea that something that, to me is very small, could result in my losing my job.”
This isn’t the only time Facebook has landed someone in the unemployment office, and it probably won’t be the last.
This woman thought she could joke about drug addiction online.
And this teenager complained about being bored at work. Coworkers tattled, and she lost her job for the complaint.
Too bad there isn’t a how-to guide for Facebook.
Wait a minute. There is.
Internet buzz about the incident has been deafening, prompting Brixx to post this statement on its own Facebook page.
“Brixx appreciates your feedback! Please know we value our employees very much, which is why we are one of the few small restaurant companies that offers benefits. Brixx also values our customers and has a policy against making negative remarks about them.
“As an employer, it is necessary to enforce policies for the benefit of all our hardworking employees and valued customers. Our policies ensure Brixx is an enjoyable place to both work AND dine. We welcome your comments, but please keep it clean!”
What do you think? Is an online rant a good reason to fire someone?
Know a small business we should write about? Contact Herald writer Amy Rolph at arolph@heraldnet.com.
