Virgin Atlantic sacks 13 over Facebook comments

I have not seen the comments on Facebook so I have no idea what was said so I can only now speak from my own personal point of view.

If somebody wrote fictitious things about me in the public domain - newspaper or website I would have something to say about it and depending on the severity could take it further. That is my right and I would use it. On the other hand if somebody wrote something that was true - the fact that I might not want them to write it in the first place does not give me any right to stop them doing so unless as I understand it it is in the public interest.

Where I draw the line on a chat room is that they should perhaps have rules that people cannot chat about other people, i.e. identify them, without the express permission of the individual first. How workable that is I don’t know but you asked the question!!

I agree there is a sense of injustice here but let us stand back a moment, we buy a ticket on a flight and thrugh no faultof our own find ourselves being dissed on facebook. That is what has happened(according to the linked article above(see top of page)) so how would you expect a firm to react? If I think you are a berk, is it right for me to make identifiable comments on a website about you or should I just keep my 'rant' private? I may be wrong but I think the firm probably acted in proportion to the offence, otherwise a verbal or non-official warning could have been given. What i would liketo know from you good people is whee should we draw the line?

I am not sure what you are saying - that you are an employee of the virgin group and want to post a comment - in which case read your contract of employment carefully first.

If you are not an employee and want to post a comment then just watch that what you say is not something that they can later sue you for libel for - if you are going to have a rant! As everyone says, you do have free speech but some is not so free as you might find out to your cost later!!

I believe this to be disgusting, if i choose to post my personal opinions on a social networking site that is my choice, These individuals probably did not quote specific procedures in relation tho their gripes, i doubt they used passengers names and it needs to be remembered that certain individualls tend to sometimes exaggerate on these types of sites and may have been a little liberal with their comments.

I could the Virgin group as an employee if I so choose to, Where would Virgin stand If i decided to voice my opinions !

I do however believe that social networking sites especially one as well known as Facebook are very dangerous, for these very reasons!

Free speech like any freedom has t be exercised with care and dutiful respect for others, even employers. In my view as a lawyer, I would find it impossible to justify inappropriate face book comments when my client was challenged about them. Our conduct, as human beings, craving rights and freedoms must be beyond reasonable reproach; otherwise we would have to dissolve the democracy in which we enjoy the concept of freedom in the first place. Just because I have the freedom to swear in this chat room, the managers of the chat room enjoy the privilege of excluding me for improper behaviour, accordingly and as a mark of self and peer respect, I don't swear. If an employee writes rude or defamatory material on a website, they should understand their freedom to say such tings is restricted by their mutual duty of trust and respect, a legal doctrine, a human right and a practical restraint of such freedom. Your friendly lawyer.

Carole, I do see the difference and I appreciate the point you are making - I was just trying to relate this specific issue to the wider question of a) whether we actually have free speech in this country (which in my opinion we plainly do not) and b) whether totally free speech is desirable anyway (which I am not decided upon). What I do know is that to have truly free speech one has to accept that sometimes some people will be offended by what others say when expressing their opinion.

Hi Carole, can't speak for Nicholas but I hadn't missed the point!

Actually Nicholas and David I think it is you that is missing the point. The title of this particular issue is Virgin Atlantic sacks 13 over Face Book comments.

If an individual is subject to a legal contract which they knowingly signed then it is up to them to make sure that they don’t break the terms of that contract. That is one issue what you are talking about is quite something else altogether.

Of course if you are not legally restricted having first signed a contract then you should be able to say what you want within reason. I say within reason because I don’t believe that what you say should be rude or offensive but if it is your opinion then you should be allowed to express it. I hope you can see the difference.

Well said Nicholas, some of which I was alluding to earlier!

I think the point is being missed by some here. You either have free speech or you don't. You can't tinker with it to suit certain groups. If you have qualified free speech, like we do in the UK, then you don't have free speech at all. If you actually have free speech then people have to put up with hearing things they don't want to hear - whether they are in a minority or a majority group. That is the nature of true democracy - which of course we don't have either! The current administration has banged on and on about freedom and free speech for the last 11 years but no government for a very long time has done as much to limit both. Some of us can see already what in time I think many more will come to realise - political correctness is just another form of fascism; i.e. speak as I speak, think as I think, or we'll have you.

Making comments is one thing and we are all free to do so including Virgin Atlantic staff unless we and they are bound by a contract of employment and that contract states specifically that your conduct, even in your time off, must be appropriate concerning your company and not bring it in to disrepute.

I suggest that what the Virgin Atlantic staff did (as I don’t know what their contracts say), was to break some clause in their contract. That said they should know better and will have to accept the consequences, harsh though it is. I am sure they have all been represented by Unions and gone through their company’s disciplinary procedures, so if they have a case we will all be hearing about it in due course.

Thanks and well said John!
BH, whoever you are, you obviously do not know me. In 1908 there were no Facebooks or YouTubes, instead the written word was to the fore, followed by artistic comment often made in cartoons, and 'indiscretions' made through either would often be vigorouly pursued through courts of law, just as now. The mention of communist Russia is meaningless as their methods in this area were the same as countless other countries previously, then, and now. The Virgin employees were not dismissed for making comments in their own time, but for making them in the public domain.
Lorraine, I do generally agree with your comment, but I have been told that much of the comment on Facebook related to opinions and views of customers, some of whom raised the complaints.

disagree with david and agree with Lorraine....

Rememebr freedom of speach!!!!

Well said David the whole case in a nutshell.

I think people should remember, Never bite the hand that feeds you.

These employees were unfortunate enough to have proof of what they think of their employers. Virgin really should try and understand why these employees are saying such things rather than denying statements made about their services or passengers, i'm sure there is an element of truth somewhere in the statements made even if they were exagerated. Employees around the globe moan about their employers and or, their duties as an employee, should we sack everyone that say these sort of things. I think Virgin were over sensitive - maybe the employees have hit a raw nerve?!?!?

Employees are not slaves, theay go to work to earn a wage they are not owned by the company they work for and should be free to say what they wish in thier own time. This is 2008 not 1908. This society and government is ruled by big business at the expense of employees and small businesses. The treatment of the Virgin staff is similar to the tactics of communist Russia if you spoke out you were penalised in some way or jailed. Bring back free speech. No doubt David Ransome would have us all tugging our forelocks and begging for our jobs.

Well done Virgin I say, the individuals were apparently bringing their employers into disrepute by their actions and statements which, in many businesses, can lead to instant dismissal. Free speech, even in a democratic society, can never be truly free as it is constrained by the rules and regulations that keep it democratic. If speech and actions were totally free we would live in a totally anarchistic society with little or no thought to the various minority groups that currently have protection, and maintain their resilience, through equality.

So much for free speech then...

Mmm....The way I saw it these Social Networking sites were to bring people together in harmony not alienate people!