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Cath Everett

Sift Media

Freelance journalist and former editor of HRZone

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Tweeter allegedly sacked after admitting depression

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A Twitter user who opened up to the boss earlier today about his depression was apparently fired three hours later after allegedly being told that “we’re a small company, there’s no room for passengers”.

The tweeter aka @badlydrawnroy claimed that his employer initially tried to make him resign, but later sent him a letter of dismissal, saying that it was with regret that it had to terminate his contract “due to non-performance”.
 
The letter continued: “As discussed with your line manager, ***** ******, on several occasions, there has been a lack of activity resulting in lack of business and an unacceptable future business pipeline.”
 
As a small business, it continued, “we cannot continue to pay a salesman a salary when no sales are forecast”, which meant that as of today, he would be put on garden leave and would not be expected to attend the office nor contact any customers.
 
Because @badlydrawnroy had been employed by the company for only just over three months, he was given only a month’s notice and will, in a somewhat ironic move, be paid up until Valentine’s Day this year.
 

Several other tweeters responded to @badlydrawnroy’s tweets, including politician Louise Mensch, who said: "If you have only been at work 3 months, there may not be much she [his MP] can do."

The Twitter account for mental health awareness campaign Time To Change also responded. It said: "Following @badlydrawnboy’s tweets has shown the importance of our antidiscimination campaign. Get involved to #endstigma."

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Author Profile Picture
Cath Everett

Freelance journalist and former editor of HRZone

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