Easy to sit behind a device and tweet but easy to be sacked over it too!

In May, SBS broadcaster dismissed soccer reporter following his tweets which were considered to be offensive.

The broadcasters twitter account identified him as an SBS reporter and his tweets questioned the Australian obsession with Anzac commemoration (which was obviously outside his coverage of soccer).

The broadcaster was sacked the following day following his refusal to remove tweets from public view as directed.

Other cases where dismissal has stood up have been because there have been clear policies detailing consequences of non-compliance, posts have been highly offensive, posts can cause harm to the employer’s business and even if private can be read by other employees or clients of the employer.

Conduct on social media shouldn’t be any different to that normally and as for other behaviour there should be a policy, reminders and / or training on appropriate behaviour and usage and leaders to model appropriate behaviour.   It is important for these actions to have taken place to be in a stronger position to terminate someone’s employment for social media misuse.

Scott McIntyre is appealing his dismissal.