Social Media in the Workplace: Fired Over a Tweet

A 27-year-old B.C. man was fired from his job in late December after posting an angry tweet about a BBQ sauce holiday gift from his employer. He was let go without severance pay in a termination his employer alleges was “for cause“.

Hussein Mehaidli, who at the time was a general manager with U.S.-based Fastenal, used his anonymous Twitter account to vent about the $6 condiment and wooden BBQ scraper that he and other Canadian employees had received as gifts.

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• Wrongful dismissal from Twitter

Alex Lucifero, an employment lawyer in Ottawa and partner at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP, joined host Leslie Roberts on CTV Morning Live Ottawa to talk about social media in the workplace and employment rights for employees and employers.

During the discussion, Alex explains:

• why Mehaidli’s dismissal was not a “just cause” situation;
• the fact that Mehaidli has likely been wrongfully dismissed and owed severance pay with help from a wrongful dismissal lawyer;
• why an employee’s social media activity outside the workplace can legally result in their termination; and
• social media policy in the workplace

You can also watch Alex’s interview on CTV Morning Live.