Virgin Atlantic fires crew for Facebook remarks

Virgin Atlantic fires crew for Facebook remarks

Thirteen members were sacked for ‘totally inappropriate’ behavior that brought ‘disrepute’ to the airline

CMN Correspondent

Monday, November 03, 2008

LONDON: Social networking sites are once again dragged into controversy, with Virgin Atlantic recently sacking 13 of its crewmembers, for what it called ‘derogatory’ remarks about the airlines and its passengers posted on Facebook.

The sacked cabin crew had posted messages on the site referring to Virgin passengers as ‘chavs’ and also made jokes about faulty engines.

"Virgin Atlantic can confirm that 13 members of its cabin crew will be leaving the company after breaking staff policies due to totally inappropriate behavior," the airline said in a statement.

“Virgin Atlantic staff are known for their world-class customer service and there is no place in our business for anyone who behaves otherwise,” said a spokesman of the company said on Friday, justifying the decision to sack the employees who "brought the company into disrepute".

While one comment mentioned the passengers as ‘chavs’, another joked that the planes were full of cockroaches and claimed the airline's jet engines were replaced four times in one year.

Once the news came to light the Facebook entries were immediately removed.
"There is a time and a place for Facebook but there is no justification for it to be used as a sounding board for staff to criticize the passengers who ultimately pay their salaries."

Ever since the networking sites have become part of the life in the cyber space, there were many such incidents like this.

The social networking sites were often criticized of making people waste their productive times wasting time messaging, poking and sending virtual cocktails.

Though there is an argument that such behavior will help improve the communication skills of the employees, many institutions are finding it difficult to digest the argument.

And psychologists say that the kind of 'friendship addiction' created by such sites fuel insecurity among users, especially females.

Do you think the addiction for social networking sites will adversely affect one’s personality? Will the net addiction affect the output of an employee? Also, do you justify the act of Virgin Atlanic (and the sacked employees) from the perspective of ‘freedom of expression’?

©CyberMedia News

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Sushanth Mohapatra said on 11/4/2008 10:24:53 AM:
The incident raises a complex issue. 1. Should ones loyalty to the organization be at the expense of ones own opinion? Does freedom of expression entitle one to do whatever one feels? And then Arent the social network sites often playing anegatrive role by opening up a free platoform for anyone to express anything that often affect the very fabric of the integrity of society?

to Sushanth Mohapatra

Siya said on 11/3/2008 5:46:29 PM:
Two angles here. One, where does ones job identity and loyalty end, once you have doffed your uniforms? Why do we talk of the right to privacy for celebrities beyond the camera time? Even then, how well can it apply to service personnel in hotels and airlines? Its about fake warmth and unfelt smiles then. Secondly, the stuff about allegiance, companys values and customer service can not be transferred through shallow trainings or manuals. If an employee doesnt feel it deep, specially in a service industry, its not his onus but that of the company. Such sites are loud wake-up calls for companies too. Look beyond temporary and controversial solutions like sacking.

to Siya

Mohd Azad said on 11/3/2008 2:32:51 PM:
Freedom of expression does bnot give u the right to do and say whatever u like. When freedom of expression crosses a limit, it becomes kind of terrorism; and that cannot be justified.

to Mohd Azad

Angeline said on 11/3/2008 2:31:54 PM:
Social networking sites are always under controversy, it was recently said that social networking sites shld be encouraged as it wud help the employees build relationships and links with customers, so which one thses is said to be true? is social networking site a boon or a bane?

to Angeline