Comments On Facebook Prove Employees Downfall

There has been a number of recent cases involving employees being dismissed for their inappropriate use of social media websites including making derogatory comments about their employer or workplace on Facebook. In two key cases, against Apple Retail (UK) Limited and JD Wetherspoons plc, the employment tribunal decided that the employees were fairly dismissed and in both these cases, it was specifically noted that the employer had a clearly defined policy which warned employees that they would be subject to disciplinary action including dismissal if they engaged in such activity. This would apply whether or not the comments were posted during work time.

In another case decided in the Northern Ireland Tribunal in March this year, the Claimant was an employee who was dismissed for making comments about a colleague . Mr Teggart was employed as a customer service representative by TeleTech UK Limited in its Belfast call centre. He posted an obscene comment about