SALARY, WAGES & BENEFITS

OK to Fire Clerk for Disparaging Supervisors on Facebook

After 31 years of service, a Canada Post fired a postal clerk for posting derogatory things about her supervisors and CP on Facebook. The arbitrator upheld termination, noting that posts weren’t private correspondence and constituted gross insubordination, hurtful—causing one supervisor to miss significant time for mental distress—and damaging to CP’s public reputation. The fact that the clerk was unapologetic didn’t do much to help her case either [Canada Post Corp. v. Canadian Union of Postal Workers (Discharge for Facebook postings Grievance, CUPW 730-07-01912, Arb. Ponak), [2012] C.L.A.D. No. 85, March 21, 2012].

Impact On You: This is just the most recent case finding that employees’ social network communications about their companies and bosses are not privacy-protected. Click here for more cases in which discipline against employees for things they say in blogs, on Facebook and in other social network media. The case highlights the importance of having a good Social Media Use Policy for your workforce.