Waitress Fired for griping about customers on Facebook

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37192342/from/ET?gt1=43001

Girl got firedfor complaining about her customers & mentioned her workplace on Facebook.

What do guys/girls think? Over the top for being fired OR was it justified? I mean it's Freedom of Expression but I feel that bad mouthing about customers & your workplace is gonna get you in trouble & getting fired was inevitable.

I mean if I had a bad day at work, I just gripe & vent it out to my GF or friend & that would be the end of it OR just keep it to myself & let it go & wash it down with some whiskey & smokes. Announcing it to the world isn't exactly a bright thing to do, I feel.

have you ever worked retail? i complain about customers all the time on facebook and my managers joke about it tooFUBAR24

I've worked in retail for more than several years now. My co-workers (managers & all) & I vent about customers or situations but we do it in a timely manner (the right place at the right time) but never written down & posting it for all to see. It's just seen as unprofessional to announce it for everyone to see.

Well it's company policy. So it was justified. Facebook is screwing people left and right. mrmusicman247

The link says she mentioned the company name.

It's not uncommon for a company to do this. It's harsh yes, but customers won't go to a place where they think the workers will secretly hate them.

She gave the company a bad image and they acted accordingly.

I think people have been fired for less becuase of myspace/facebook. People should know to be real careful what you post.

If she singled out the couple in particular and mentioned the restaurant, then I have no problem with this at all. There's a big difference between posting a message saying "my day at work today sucked" and posting one saying "that damn couple that gave me a $5 tip at Brixx Pizza today were so cheap".

If she singled out the couple in particular and mentioned the restaurant, then I have no problem with this at all. There's a big difference between posting a message saying "my day at work today sucked" and posting one saying "that damn couple that gave me a $5 tip at Brixx Pizza today were so cheap".

GabuEx

Just say customers. That and of course, don't put it on Facebook.

The link says she mentioned the company name.

It's not uncommon for a company to do this. It's harsh yes, but customers won't go to a place where they think the workers will secretly hate them.

She gave the company a bad image and they acted accordingly.

Murj

Free speech and all that, but if you're blabbing about this kind of stuff on Facebook you kind of deserve it.albatrossdrums

Clearly you have never worked in retail, it's perfectly fine to rant about people who piss you off, it's called being human, we're not all robots.

[QUOTE="albatrossdrums"]Free speech and all that, but if you're blabbing about this kind of stuff on Facebook you kind of deserve it.MushroomWig

Clearly you have never worked in retail, it's perfectly fine to rant about people who piss you off, it's called being human, we're not all robots.

[QUOTE="albatrossdrums"]Free speech and all that, but if you're blabbing about this kind of stuff on Facebook you kind of deserve it.MushroomWig

Clearly you have never worked in retail, it's perfectly fine to rant about people who piss you off, it's called being human, we're not all robots.

Yes, in private; you don't post a complaint on a public internet site and identify both the restaurant and the customers in question.

have you ever worked retail? i complain about customers all the time on facebook and my managers joke about it tooFUBAR24

[QUOTE="MushroomWig"]

[QUOTE="albatrossdrums"]Free speech and all that, but if you're blabbing about this kind of stuff on Facebook you kind of deserve it.GabuEx

Clearly you have never worked in retail, it's perfectly fine to rant about people who piss you off, it's called being human, we're not all robots.

Yes, in private; you don't post a complaint on a public internet site and identify both the restaurant and the customers in question.

Now she won't have any issues with customers.

[QUOTE="GabuEx"]

[QUOTE="MushroomWig"]

Clearly you have never worked in retail, it's perfectly fine to rant about people who piss you off, it's called being human, we're not all robots.

MushroomWig

Yes, in private; you don't post a complaint on a public internet site and identify both the restaurant and the customers in question.

To be fair, Facebook isn't pubic.MushroomWig

Yeah I don't think you can post those pictures on facebook.

[QUOTE="MushroomWig"]

[QUOTE="albatrossdrums"]Free speech and all that, but if you're blabbing about this kind of stuff on Facebook you kind of deserve it.albatrossdrums

Clearly you have never worked in retail, it's perfectly fine to rant about people who piss you off, it's called being human, we're not all robots.

Seems like a sufficient response. There is really no room to talk bad about anyone else.. especially if you're relying on them to support your way of living(even though I see this way of living as primitive and unreasonable in many respects.) [QUOTE="FUBAR24"]have you ever worked retail? i complain about customers all the time on facebook and my managers joke about it tooEMOEVOLUTION

[QUOTE="MushroomWig"]

To be fair, Facebook isn't pubic.kidsmelly

Yeah I don't think you can post those pictures on facebook.

[QUOTE="albatrossdrums"][QUOTE="MushroomWig"]

Clearly you have never worked in retail, it's perfectly fine to rant about people who piss you off, it's called being human, we're not all robots.

MushroomWig

Facebook is hardly a place for friends. People more often than not add anyone they've ever had more than one meeting with. That and she probably had friends at work who she added on Facebook. She could have been ratted out or maybe her manager even saw it.

People being fired because of facebook is nothing new.

Throwing around your company's name and disrespecting specific customers (remember...if you work in the service industry you kindof have to deal with customers in a professional way...the good and the bad)will not bode well with said company. She deserved to get fired.

The mind is the ultimate safehaven for private thoughts. Why open a Facebook account and put your thoughts on display for the world to see? Talk about violating yourself.

I've been working with customers in various job since I was 17, I'm now 23...do you still want to bet?. It's perfectly natural to rant about people, especially considering Facebook is supposed to be a private network for you and your friends and family. How her work even found out about her rant is surprising.MushroomWig

[QUOTE="GabuEx"]

[QUOTE="MushroomWig"]

Clearly you have never worked in retail, it's perfectly fine to rant about people who piss you off, it's called being human, we're not all robots.

MushroomWig

Yes, in private; you don't post a complaint on a public internet site and identify both the restaurant and the customers in question.

its called venting. it makes everyone feel better after having a long day and just getting stuff off your chest

FUBAR24

Talking from personel expirence.

[QUOTE="GabuEx"]

[QUOTE="MushroomWig"]

Clearly you have never worked in retail, it's perfectly fine to rant about people who piss you off, it's called being human, we're not all robots.

MushroomWig

Yes, in private; you don't post a complaint on a public internet site and identify both the restaurant and the customers in question.

As was said, it's obviously public enough for the company to have found out about this.

The link says she mentioned the company name.

It's not uncommon for a company to do this. It's harsh yes, but customers won't go to a place where they think the workers will secretly hate them.

She gave the company a bad image and they acted accordingly.

Murj

you'd probably be a happier person if you found alternative ways to handle that stress.

Talking from personel expirence.

EMOEVOLUTION

[QUOTE="EMOEVOLUTION"]you'd probably be a happier person if you found alternative ways to handle that stress.

Talking from personel expirence.

MushroomWig

Be careful what you post on a public forum. It does seem a little harsh though – perhaps she wasn't a particularly well-respected employee and this was an easy means to get her out of the business…

[QUOTE="EMOEVOLUTION"]you'd probably be a happier person if you found alternative ways to handle that stress.

Talking from personel expirence.

MushroomWig

She had it coming.

I've whined and complained about my jobs, my friends, etc on Gamespot, but I always make a specific point of hiding names or giving hypothetical names that aren't the real names. One of the great things about the internet is anonymity. We can gripe and complain all we want for everyone to see. But believe it or not, real life and internet life intermingle. I probably work with people who go to Gamespot. Games are popular, Gamespot is popular...right now, one of my coworkers has probably posted on Gamespot. I sure as **** don't want to start talking trash about him by name, so that he then knows that I am "MrGeezer" and starts telling all of my other coworkers about the kinds of ridiculous-ass garbage that I post here.

Similar, I was under the impression that a lot of people on the Facebooks don't try to hide their identities. Again, BIG MISTAKE, when you're talking about how much your workplace sucks, and go on record as stating which company you are ewmployed with. You can get away with trash-talking your company and your employers at the poker table, because no one is going to wear a wire. But when you post that on the internet (so that your boss can go check to confirm what you said), make no effort to hide your identity, and make no effort to hide the identity of the company that you are "dissing", then what else would you expect to happen?

I'm not saying that it's "right", but anyone who cares about keeping a job should absolutely exercise some caution in what they type on the internet.

[QUOTE="mrmusicman247"]Well it's company policy. So it was justified. Facebook is screwing people left and right. Boston_Boyy

Too late, I was blaming Halo 3.

I've already said it once and I'll say it again.. people post way too much information on the internet.. it gets back to you somehow. It's part of the reason I don't put my picture anywhere on the internet.

Well, I never tip EVER!!! Also if I'm going to rant on Facebook It'll be along the lines of "man I hate serving cheap people" and chances are my Facebook will already know where I work so they can put 2 and 2...

This is one of the many reasons I don't use facebook.

And this is why it's good to use annonymity when online and doing this. But this isn't the first time facebook has gotten someone in trouble for exercising the right to free speech. I remember a story of a landlord kicking a tenet out for talking about him on facebook. I would think that would violate free speech since it technically does but I'm sure the law has a nice loophole for buissnesses to stamp on such things.

And this is why it's good to use annonymity when online and doing this. But this isn't the first time facebook has gotten someone in trouble for exercising the right to free speech. I remember a story of a landlord kicking a tenet out for talking about him on facebook. I would think that would violate free speech since it technically does but I'm sure the law has a nice loophole for buissnesses to stamp on such things.

Pixel-Pirate

The landlord had to have a good reason for doing so as I'd like to believe unlawful eviction is covered in US law, so the facebook part really doesn't matter.

The internet has superseded those who you can turn to to vent.

As a bus boy, Ive complained about customers several times on Facebook. Some deserve, they can just be plain rude, but I wouldnt really know if I'd be fired especially since my family owns the place, and I dont include names or even where I work (But most of my friends are aware of where I work)

And this is why it's good to use annonymity when online and doing this. But this isn't the first time facebook has gotten someone in trouble for exercising the right to free speech. I remember a story of a landlord kicking a tenet out for talking about him on facebook. I would think that would violate free speech since it technically does but I'm sure the law has a nice loophole for buissnesses to stamp on such things.

Pixel-Pirate

How does that violate free speech? A tenant does not have a Constitutional right to rent a property.