Facebook is used for social networking, communicating and sharing pictures of a night out with friends--but have you ever considered using Facebook to fire your employees?
According to the Huffington post, Pita Pit, a sandwich shop located in Wellington, New Zealand, is under fire after getting caught firing two of its employees through Facebook. The eatery has reportedly had a recent change of ownership.
The former staff members reportedly went to check the management schedule on the shop's private Facebook group page. Both reported that they did not see their names and were then later sent the following Facebook message: "You don't have a job anymore."
The Huffington Post reported that Taryne Cullen, 20, who worked at the Pita Pit for a year, was due to return to work after a knee surgery. After calling the restaurant, she was surprised to hear the unexpected news.
"They just said, 'You don't have a job anymore.' I felt brushed aside, like I was no one," she told New Zealand's Stuff.
A second woman, who worked at the Pita Pit for a year and eight months, told Stuff she was surprised when she called in and management asked her to return her uniform. Pita Pit has received a lot of negative press over the incident and some users are calling for a boycott of the eatery. Pita Pit recently posted the following statement on Facebook.
"We've sent a representative to Wellington today to work through the issues highlighted. The Pita Pit culture is to treat all team members with respect and Pita Pit New Zealand are committed to ensuring an outcome whereby an amicable resolution is gained for all parties. This is an isolated situation so we hope you'll go easy on our other franchisees."
According to Stuff, Wayne Cui, Pita Pit owner, said despite being new to the management team, he believes that the situation could have been handled better.
"If they want to talk to us, the door is always open," he said.
This isn't the only incident where food businesses have made some bad calls when it came to firing their employees. In October, a buzzy Sacramento restaurant laid off its entire staff via email. During the holidays, a Chicago sandwich chain fired its entire staff via email.
What do you think of Pita Pit's actions?
