I Got The Sack?

i work/ed at chessington world of adventures. on friday 17th august, i was called into the office. they were investigating a comment i posted on facebook. the group was to do with chessington world of adventures having foot and mouth. my comment was "now the diner can start selling some proper meat". i got sacked because of the media policy. the thing is, can they sack me for that?

1. the diner? that could mean anything. infact its the staff diner, where we eat. i did not mention this.

2. the company is not mentioned. yes, it does say chessie, but chessie, could mean anything. the companys name is chessington world of adventures (merlin entertainments)

my point is the company is not mentioned! i have more info, but im not gonna post anymore. obvisley if u want to help me out, i will post more!

thanks for the help guys!

media policy:

unless expressly authorised any from of contact with the media which draws attention to or is on behalf of chessington, directly or indirectly will be considered a discllipinary offecnce.

Rather than ask us lot, I would go and and seek legal advice.

It won't cost anything to ask, and I do think you need professional advice

Thats pretty rough man, but I think they will probably get away with it.

If the group was discussing the company and you posted a comment, the company WAS mentioned even if your comment did not use the company name. I don't have access to the media policy, but I bet is states that THEY are the final arbiter of what is and is not acceptable. Form what you put in your question, I believe must reader would know the comments referred to chessington world adventures.

Ignoring everything I've said so far, in most states, they don't need a reason to fire you.

Depends on lots of other factors , such as any legal disclaimers you may have signed as part of your contract of employment.
The citizens Advice Bureau is set up to handle this type of problem.
If no luck there, good luck with slagging them off at every given opportunity the Internet provides in future.

As others have suggested - you need to seek legal advice. Reputable firms often give 1 hour free or cheap advice. It might be that the company should have given you a written warning etc rather than sacking you out right.

If you are a member of a trade union then they could negotiate on your behalf. If you are not a union member - joining now will not help because legally the union can not help with issues which have already taken place ( I believe). I can not urge you strongly enough to join a union - if not for this problem but for any problems in employment you may experience in the future. Good Luck

Welp, I know I am not going to get the best answer award for this one but, Yes the company had every right to fire you.

The company had a media waiver in their handbook and yes you did violate it. You see because YOU are employed by the company YOU are considered a Representative of that company. Anyone that knows your screen name WILL associate your comments to the company. They in turn COULD tell others about your comment and thus harm the company's standing.

I know that this sounds like they are pulling at straws but off color comments by workers have been know to hurt companies in the past. But, now that you are no longer employed you can say whatever you wish as long as it is truthful

That should teach you a lesson. I have been saying for yonks on these pages that you should never use your correct ID on these "fun" websites. Do not give any personal info and that includes a correct address and a correct date of birth or telephone number.

A lot of employers and the Security service and police regularly use these sites to gather and store personal information in this increasingly Big Brother age.

Students have been expelled from Oxford university on their postings. And don't forget these people have water tight rules. And are backed up by their lawyers and the authorities are on their side.
Remember, do not believe all those trumpeters of "We are free" because they are the thickest people on the globe. Get another job and stick with my advice.

Facebook especially is a CIA funded and run mess!

typical imature thing to say. next time keep your trap shut and get on with your work, thats what your there for

You should have posted under a fake name. lol

Seriously though, if you feel you have been treated unfairly - seek legal advice. Your nearest Citizens Advice Bureau should be able to point you in the right direction. http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/life... :-)

Yes they were most likely within their rights to sack you and if they weren't then, they certainly are now.

Yes, they can fire you for that. And you should have been fired. If you wanted to work there, you shouldn't have been making bad comments about them in public. The fact that your comments were vague are no excuse.

I think you haven't got a chance of taking any action .

Never mind , You was probably only on the minimum wage

. Tell them to stick there low paid job up there Harris and make another video about Cheesie Chessington . That should teach them a lesson .

What have you got to lose , you've already got the bullet .

"the group was to do with chessington world of adventures having foot and mouth."
"unless expressly authorised any from of contact with the media which draws attention to or is on behalf of chessington, directly or indirectly will be considered a discllipinary offecnce."

Unless the spelling mistakes are theirs, it seems pretty much cut and dried to me. "Chessie", written in that forum, can be taken as only meaning your employer's company.

From what you've said in your Q, it sounds as if they could have a legal libel case against you for:

1. Implying, in a forum that people identify as being about their company, that their catering was substandard or that products used were not as advertised - to wit, meat - prior to the F&M outbreak, and

2. Implying that they would be prepared to purchase meat products from questionable and/or illegal sources now that the outbreak has occurred.

I would advise that you learn from this that you don't go public with anything to do with your employment in the future, bow your head and live with what has happened. If you go legal you are highly likely to find yourself the subject of a counter-suit on the grounds that I mention above.

No, I don't work for them. I wouldn't get out of bed for what such places are prepared to offer in wages.