When people hear the words Facebook or Myspace, they automatically know that they are sites that people around the world use to communicate with one another. Anything from the latest gossip, to 2 people just trying to get reaquainted from earlier years are some topics that are easily found on both Facebook and Myspace. Although most comments found on these networking sites are positive and friendly, sometimes people just need to vent by writing a message to a friend.
In the situation found in this story, a teenager by the name of Kimberly Swann posted a comment on Facebook saying that her job was "boring". Kimberly was an Administrator for Ivell Marketing and Logistics Limited in Clacton, Essex. Kimberly's boss Steve Ivell said "she posted comments on Facebook about her job and invited other staff members to read them". The story states that Kimberly was "sacked (fired) with immediate effect" after posting the comment on Facebook:
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Facebook-Sacking-Kimberley-Swann-From-Clacton-Essex-Sacked-For-Calling-Job-Boring/Article/200902415230508?lpos=UK_News_Top_Stories_Header_4&lid=ARTICLE_15230508_Facebook_Sacking%3A_Kimberley_Swann_From_Clacton%2C_Essex%2C_Sacked_For_Calling_Job_Boring
Group members' responses:
Jordan: 1. I do not believe that Kimberly's boss should have fired her because of the negative comment on Facebook. I think what she chooses to say online to another person is up to her, and if other people are offended then that's their problem. 2. I don't think that Kimberly is wrong saying that they were being nosey at all. If somebody is going to fire a person from posting a negative comment saying their job was boring on a site like Facebook. then I think that is just childish. 3. I believe that people overrate a lot of what is being put on sites like Facebook and Myspace. I mean people make such a big deal about something that is posted on a site that is meant to be fun and enjoyable that sometimes it's not even worth having one.
Amber: okay. I don't think it was right for her boss to fire her because of what she said. Who DOESN'T say that their job is boring, and the most places that I do see people say that is through Myspace or Facebook. It's normal these days. I know that in order to view a person's Facebook, that person has to accept you as a friend..so they had a right to be nosey I guess since whoever saw it was on her friends list. I know that Myspace and Facebook do cause a bit more drama, but it's because people overreact when they see things said that are negative.
The questions we wish to ask are: Do you agree with Kimberly Swann's boss by firing her because of the negative comment about her job she posted on Facebook? Do you think that Kimberly is right by saying that "They were just being nosey going through everything", or should she have not said anything negative about her job at all? Do you feel that sites like facebook and myspace are causing too much drama in today's society, or are people just overreacting when it comes to what is posted on these social networking sites?
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I don't agree with Kimberly boss by firing her because of a negative comment posted on facebook about her job.
ReplyDeleteAbout if his boss were nosey through everything I would give the benefit of the doubt. There are companies and business that want their complete loyalty (just like the employees of the airlines), but commentaries that have negative effect I would keep that to myself.
I think people in general are overreacting just because they see something to dislike them, their action is target them to "maximum effect" usually they lose their jobs, their previous bosses make sure that doesn't get hire on other companies making the life of their ex-employees miserable. This is sad because it happens around the world inclusively here in the U.S.
There's something to be said about professionalism and keeping work-related chat/commentary as easygoing and neutral as possible. There are far too many flies on the wall these days, especially with such networking arenas as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace -- places where one can post blogs to vent frustrations and comments on publicly-displayed message boards.
ReplyDeleteIn response to your question(s): I think Kimberly ought to have thought wisely and practically, adhering to the ol' Don't Trust Anyone motif. Her boss was only doing what he was thought was in the best interest of the company's reputation, especially since Kimberly opened up the commentary for co-workers as well. I think "sacking" her was a bit extreme. He certainly could've given her a warning instead. Also, Kimberly indicated that she did not reveal the name of her company on her Facebook page. That ought to have been taken into consideration--there WAS a degree of anonymity.
My blog post from awhile back was on this very issue. We certainly have the same sort of stuff going on in higher ed. Those of the pre-online-networking generations have always known that social venues and work Do Not Mix.
Hmmm...I'm going to see if I can summon a guest commenter on this -- someone I know very well who has had a similar experience as Kimberly's...
I dont believe she should of gotten fired. She was just trying to release some of her feelings. Maybe she needed someone to talk to about her "boring" job. What she post online doesnt have to do anything with how she performs her job. Anyone in that office could of been thinking the same way as Kimberly but she was just the only one who wrote about it.
ReplyDeleteI can certainly relate to this story. A few years ago I was almost fired from my job due to an ironically faux biographical entry posted to my myspace page. It was a positively ridiculous entry that painted a picture of me that anyone that KNEW me would find amusing. However, I had made the oversight of actually filling in the "company" portion of my profile info and as a result my myspace page popped up when an internet sweep was done by the company. Apparently a small fragment of that 'about me' entry was taken completely out of context and passed on to the higher ups in the company to paint a rather shocking picture of me, without mention of the punch line at the end of it all. This had NOTHING to do with my employer and yet my manager had to fight for me to keep my job and I had to take the company name off my page. I quit less than a year later.
ReplyDeleteI feel for Kimberly. Though she was referencing her job and made the mistake of inviting employees to read it, she left the company anonymous and really didn't say anything negative about the company itself. I mean really, how many people don't get bored with their jobs at some point. We can't all make a living doing what we love all the time. This certainly was not grounds for dismissal. If I were an employer and stumbled across that, I would be curious what other employees thought and how to boost the moral at the office to increase productivity. Perhaps that is why the global economy sucks right now. The truth hurts..
Facebook and myspace are today's water cooler or coffee shop. If your boss fired you over something he/she overheard you saying to a friend at the supermarket it sure as heck wouldn't hold up in court. Why is this any different?
He fired her for calling her job boring? Wow, that seems pretty stupid in my opinion. It's not like she was making death threats to her co-workers or anything! She left out the name of the company, as well. Sometimes things just get taken to the extreme. It's just Myspace/Facebook yet it gets so many people in trouble. Why were her bosses even checking on her Facebook? If she wasn't on it while at work then what she does or doesn't have on it shouldn't be of any concern to her employers!
ReplyDeleteI think her right to write what she will about her life. She in no way slandered her company, so I believe he was out of line entirely. Instead, he might have asked her not to post things that could potentially lower her co-workers morale as well. I think today's society is forgetting to take myspace and all those sites into their proper context's. We utilize these sites not to spread word about our company or to bring about strife and discord, but to vent our daily frustrations and to celebrate life with our friends and family. People just feel the need to keep the drama going is all these days are about...
ReplyDeleteWow. That's stupid I don't think she should have been fired for saying her job was boring. Maybe if she had said something against another person or if she was completlely disrepecting the company but I don't think she was. Everyone gets bored with their job/school, but they still go and give their 100% effort (ok...some of them)
ReplyDelete-Ashlyn
I think her boss canning her was completly uncalled for. His reason for letting her go had nothing to do with her on the job performance. This sounds to me more personal than anything, and as most of us would agree, her boss was wrong to do that. But the truth is, that is the real business world, people bring personal things to work and while this might be unprofessional, the truth is this is how the world works.
ReplyDeleteall though i think that somethings should be vented only to friends, I dont think that she should have lost her job. It did not take any bussiness from the company so it seems like she was fired for personal reasons only. We all talk smack about our jobs but most of us know better than to tell our co-workers.
ReplyDeleteI do not think that she shoudl have gotten fired either. That is just like saying anyone who comes home a bitches about work to their signicant other should be let go too. Cant Kimberly hide behind the 1st amendment like everyone else in the world who has said something they shouldnt have?
ReplyDeleteAmanda Bridges from the T/R 11am class
ReplyDeleteMyspace and Facebook are just something for people to go on and communicate with other people like friends and family and even co-workers. They are definitely drama filled but then again stress relievers. Sometimes for me to get on Myspace and just have a quick conversation with friends about my day at school or work helps calm me down. And yea i've said that my job is boring but it's not something I should get fired for and that girl shouldn't have either. That was rediculous and her employer needs to get the stick out of his ass and stop taking little things like that so seriously.
I do feel like her boss was wrong for firing her because of her personal views. I could see if her comment had a negative impact on the company, which I don't think it did; so there was no real reason to fire her. He probably thinks his job is boring and thought to fire her so he could get some excitment in his by seeing her reaction.
ReplyDelete