|
Fired Because of "Web Addiction"
Sunday, September 23,
2007
Three workers lost their jobs at the Neath Port Talbot Council due
to excessive Internet usage during work hours. Apparently, they
were spending up to two hours daily on ebay.
They Were Fired, Not You, So Why Are
You Feeling Down?
Sunday,
July 29, 2007
The New York Times has an article on how to deal with low morale
after an organization has gone through a round of layoffs.
Joke on
MySpace Cost Wal-Mart Cashier His Job
Thursday, May 31, 2007
A former Wal-Mart cashier was fired for writing on his MySpace page
that "the average IQ would increase if a bomb were dropped on the
company's stores." With the current climate over national security,
those words were taken seriously and got David Noordewier out the
door and unable to claim unemployment benefits "because he made a
threat."
Prior to that incident, the Wal-Mart's former employee had an almost
perfect work attendance record and even received a thank you note
from the president of the company over compliments from a customer
he helped.
Was the punishment too harsh?
Ensuring "Job Security"
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Job security is about creating a sense of belonging in your work
environment so that when something goes wrong, you're not the first
one to be shown the door. Employment attorney Richard C. Busse,
author of "Fired, Laid-Off or Forced Out," suggests 12 ways to build
up your currency in the workplace:
- Learn to like the people with whom you work.
- Communicate with your supervisor.
- Avoid turning down invitations to social events.
- Don't shy away from opportunities to socialize with your boss.
- Socialize with your co-workers.
- Make your co-workers feel good about themselves/ don't bring
them down.
- Remember and show appreciation to the person who helped you get
the job.
- Don't violate confidences from your co-workers.
- If possible, don't turn down assignments.
- Know what is expected of you.
- Never say bad things about your employer/ the company.
- Even if you are unhappy where you are, don't show it.
A 12-Step Program for Ensuring Job Security, NorthJersey.com
CEOs Who Did Not Let Failure Stop Them
Monday, February 05, 2007
In light of the recent series of resignations from high profile
CEOs, Forbes put out some pictures and commentaries on "CEOs Who
Survived Career Disaster." Please click "here"
to view the show.
Iowa Woman Denied Unemployment
Benefits for Keeping a Journal Detailing Her Efforts to Avoid Work
Saturday, January 20, 2007
An administrative judge denied a 25 year-old woman access to
unemployment benefits after it was found that she avoided work, as
revealed in a journal that she kept on her work computer.
Portions of her journal were introduced in evidence, including:
- "This typing thing seems to be doing the trick... It just looks
like I am hard at work on something very important."
- "I am only here for the money and, lately, for the printer
access. I haven't really accomplished anything in a long while ...
and I am still getting paid more than I ever have at a job before,
with less to do than I have ever had before. It's actually quite
nice when I think of it that way. I can shop online, play games and
read message boards and still get paid for it."
After her supervisor discovered her journal late last year, Emmalee
Bauer, of Elkhart, was fired for misuse of company time.
Woman Fired for Writing About Avoiding Work, CBS2.com
Modern Day Weapons of Personal
Destruction
Wednesday, January 10,
2007
Bad Judgment + E-mail = Troubles.
This formula is especially true in the work environment as employers
are getting stricter in enforcing their e-mail policies. The
problem with e-mails is that they can be forwarded to others easily,
meaning that e-mails spread like bush fires. Only one person needs
to report a controversial e-mail for the author to get into trouble.
In that regard, two civil servants in the U.S. were nailed by the
federal Office of Special Counsel (OSC) for engaging into political
activities during work hours, in violation of the Hatch Act, a
statute that bars on-the-job politicking and political arm-twisting.
Ottawa Police Officer Wants to Be
Reinstated After Theft Conviction
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
A police officer who committed theft and uttered threats after
stealing cheese, chocolate, and shaving lotion from a grocery store
in December 2004 is trying to get his job back. The Ottawa Police
wants him out of the force whereas his lawyer is arguing for a
demotion. He is currently suspended with pay.
As for why he stole the items, the police officer wasn't sure why,
although he suggested that it was "symbolic:"
He said he feels the items he stole symbolized the way he felt
about himself at the time of the incident: the cheese meant he was a
"mouse" and therefore a "coward," the chocolate, a form of
punishment since he would get headaches if he ate it, and the
aftershave was a way to clean himself because he felt "dirty."
Employee Fired for Being a Smoker
Thursday, November 30, 2006
A 30-year old man was fired for being a smoker, as was revealed in a
lawsuit he instigated on Wednesday against The Scotts Co., a lawn
and garden company. In the documents he filed at the courthouse, he
alleges that the company violated his privacy and civil rights when
they dismissed him. Specifically, Scott Rodriguez, of
Massachusetts, was fired from the lawn-care job he had for several
weeks after a drug test came up positive for nicotine. In that
regard, he argued that he was never told he would be tested for such
substance and was even told the company would help him quit smoking.
The lawsuit stated: "In more general terms, this case challenges the
right of an employer to control employees' personal lives and
activities by prohibiting legal private conduct the employer finds
to be dangerous, distasteful or disagreeable." The Scotts Co., a
subsidiary of Scotts-Miracle Gro Co. (in Ohio), implemented a policy
earlier this year forbidding smoking to promote a healthier
lifestyle and reduce insurance costs.
For more details on this story, please go to
Boston.com (Smoker Says Company Violated His Rights When They
Fired Him)
Teaching Assistant Dismissed for
Wearing Veil in Classroom
Saturday, November 25, 2006
A Muslim classroom assistant lost her job with the Church of England
school in Dewsbury, West Yorks, when students found it hard to
understand her behind her veil. An employment tribunal dismissed
her claim of religious discrimination and harassment on religious
grounds. In that regard, the dismissed employee was willing to
remove her veil in front of children on the condition that no male
colleagues were present. That compromise was obviously not
sufficient. Notwithstanding the fact that the tribunal found no
case of discrimination, she was nonetheless awarded £1,100 for
injury to her feelings.
Why Are Employees Fired in Toronto? -
Top 10 Reasons
Friday,
November 17, 2006
CityNews lists the top 10 reasons why employees are fired in
Toronto, Canada:
- They bring their personal life to the office.
- They forget about team work and play solo.
- They come to work late and go home early (makes for a short day
indeed).
- They sleep at their desk (daily...).
- They take lunch breaks that are a bit too long.
- They surf the Web and download things while on the job.
- They complain about their jobs to anybody that wants to listen
(that includes customers, of course).
- They look for other jobs while at work.
- They lied on their applications.
- They drink alcohol while at work.
The Top 10
Reasons Employees Are Fired in Toronto, CityNews.ca
Like if Being Fired Was Not Already Bad
Enough
Thursday, September 07,
2006
Like if getting fired was not already bad enough, some corporations
treat employees they just fired like nobodies; those same employees
who, while still on the job, corporations tried to instill a
sentiment of "loyalty."
In that regard, CNN compiled a few examples of the worst practices
in firing employees:
- Firing employees through e-mail, FedEX, registered letter, text
message, voice mail, and conference call.
- Asking employees to attend a meeting in the auditorium and
handing out envelopes of different colors. Employees who were
handed envelopes of one color where led back to their offices, the
others were shown to the door.
- Leaving a copy of the new organizational chart on the photocopy
machine, with the name of some employees left off entirely.
- Ask all employees to resign and reapply for jobs.
- Bringing in armed guards to protect computer files and
property...
Worst Ways to Get Fired, CNNMoney.com
Employee Fired Because of Personal Blog
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Catherine Sanderson, known online as "La
Petite Anglaise," was fired after her employer, a conservative
British accounting firm based in Paris, stated that her online
writing brought the firm into disrepute. That was the case even
though she never named the firm (Dixon Wilson) in her blog.
This goes to show that having a personal blog and recounting
work-related stories might actually annoy some employers...
The firm got wind of her blog as her boss used her computer to look
for a file. Unfortunately for her, she forgot to turn off her
computer. Before being busted, La Petite Anglaise accumulated a
following of approximately 3,000 regular readers from all parts of
the world.
Planning Your Retirement
Monday,
July 10, 2006
There is an article in the USA Today relating the experience of a
baby boomer fired from his job after 27 years of service. Without
enough money to retire and unable to find another position, he was
forced to dig into his savings and home equity to buy a franchise.
The franchise still does not make enough money for him to earn a
salary and he is currently living on his savings.
There is often a misconception that we can "plan" our retirement.
That is not always the case, however, as this example illustrates.
Avoiding the "Blacklist"
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Once a job is secured, the next main concern is to stay there.
Meeting basic standards and showing up on time for work may not be
enough however, especially when an employer is looking to downsize.
When that happens, those on the blacklist are the first ones to go.
If that is the case, how to avoid the blacklist? Following are
three simple things to do in order to avoid appearing on the
infamous list:
- don't speak your mind freely... even if you have been on the job
for a long time;
- don't use the human resources department as a confessional or as
a place to complain about co-workers; and
- don't abuse company resources, including e-mails and messenger.
In terms of the positive actions that you can take, make sure to
bring added value to your employer so that your contribution is
recognized.
How Not
to Be Blacklisted at Work, NBC10.com
Signs of a Firing
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Employees often think that because they do a good job they won't get
fired. Is that so? What if your superior doesn't really like what
you do, yet does not have the courage to let you know openly? Or,
what about the possibility that your work is decent, but not more
than that? Or, what about the fact that, although you may do good
work, there is no connection in terms of personality?
All that to say that you may be let go without even suspecting it.
Indeed, factors such as the fact that you've worked at a place for a
long period of time, etc. are not determinative, and who really
knows what is the motivation behind an employer's decision to take
action? There is so little that reaches the ears of employees
anyways...
Following are some warning signs that might signal that something is
wrong:
- you are given less responsibilities;
- you are carrying out "special assignments" and no longer do your
regular duties;
- your office is moved;
- people avoid eye contact with you; or
- your boss stepped-up his or her supervision over you.
If some of the above things are happening to you, don't ignore them.
They are not "innocent happenings." Being let go without knowing why
can have dramatic impacts on one's self-esteem. If you feel that your
employer is trying to get rid of you, play smart and start looking for
another job. First, it is always easier to look for work when you are
employed. Second, it is always better to "leave" an employer than to be
"let go."
Signs You're About to Be Fired, Toronto Star
Managers Think With Their Heads
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
A bedding company had a ceremony to mark the 25th year of service of
one of its employees and gave her a gold watch on the occcasion.
The company praised her "loyalty, hard work and flexibility".
A week later, she was put on a list of 12 people whose services were
no longer required: "Mrs Ogden said the memory of her long-service
presentation had been soured by the way she was sacked."
She got 12 weeks' salary and no loyalty bonus. As for the reasons
for her dismissal, she was not qualified enough and not flexible
enough...
Some managers praise employees for one and only one reason: to make
them work harder. But at the end of the day, those additional hours
will not guarantee you a job. It's the capitalist way.
Immigrants Fired for Attending Protest
During Work Hours
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Some immigrants have been fired because they attended a rally
against legislation in Congress cracking down on illegal
immigrants. It is unclear whether they were fired for missing work
or whether they were fired for taking position on the issue (no
matter what the companies say...).
The number of people fired is negligible, however, relative to the
amplor of the protests currently going on in the U.S. It is
nonetheless sad to see workers already earning so little losing the
little they have.
Pre-Arranged Marriage Leads to Job
Termination
Tuesday,
April 04, 2006
Ayesha Sheika, 21, claims that she was laid off because she followed
her parent's wishes to marry someone she didn't know back in
Pakistan. When she came back from the trip and told some co-workers
about it, the rumor spread around like a bush fire.
Ayesha Sheika joined her emploer, BDO Stoy Hayward, on the
understanding that they would pay for her three-year training for
chartered taxation accountancy exams. When her superior
learned about her marriage, she told her that she would not put her
forward for training.
BDO denies the allegations.
Story About a Male Cashier
Thursday, March 23, 2006
A man won a $50,000 settlement because he was wrongfully dismissed,
apparently because of his age and sex. Otherwise, his record was
totally clean.
|
