Employer Ordered to Reinstate Employees Fired over Facebook Posts

October 17, 2011 (PLANSPONSOR.com) – Hispanics United of Buffalo (HUB) has been ordered to reinstate five employees who were terminated after posting complaints about their work on Facebook. 
 

According to Business and Legal Reports (BLR), Administrative Law Judge Arthur Amchan found the terminations violated the National Labor Relations Act (NLBA).  The exchange was protected concerted activity under the NLRA because it was a discussion among co-workers regarding terms and conditions of employment, including their job performance, and staffing levels. The fact that the workers “were not trying to change their working conditions and . . . did not communicate their concerns” to HUB was irrelevant, the judge ruled. BLR said the judge noted “whether the comments and actions of the five terminated employees took place on Facebook or ‘around the water cooler’ the result would be the same.”

The initial case involved an employee who posted on her Facebook page a co-workers allegation that employees did not do enough to help the organization’s clients. The initial post generated responses from other employees, who defended their job performance and criticized working conditions.  

Get more!  Sign up for PLANSPONSOR newsletters.

After Hispanics United learned of the posts, it fired the five employees on grounds that their comments constituted harassment of the employee originally mentioned in the post. The National Labor Relations Board stepped in to help the workers (see NLRB Steps In Again over Firing for Facebook Posts). 

Even Small Token of Appreciation Will Motivate Employees

October 17, 2011 (PLANSPONSOR.com) – Research from Parago indicates that even a small token of appreciation goes a long way to keep employees motivated and feeling appreciated and loyal to their employers. 
 

According to the survey, 64% of employees said a prepaid card of $50 or less would meet their expectations of an end-of-year reward, with 55% expecting $25.

Most employees do not expect their employers to give end-of-year rewards or holiday gifts this year, yet an even bigger majority indicates that even a little reward would be greatly appreciated. In fact, 81% say that end-of-year rewards are a nice thing to do for employees, but should not be expected.

For more stories like this, sign up for the PLANSPONSOR NEWSDash daily newsletter.

Key findings of the research include:

•  Eighty-four percent of employees reported that an end-of-year reward of a prepaid card valued at $100 or less would meet their expectations. Fifty-five percent of employees said it would take just a $25 prepaid card to meet their expectations.

•  Sixty-nine percent of employees do not expect their employers to give end-of-year rewards or holiday gifts this year, with the main reasons being lower company profits, missed quotas, lack of appreciation for employees, or the fact that their company does not normally give out holiday rewards.

•  Eighty-one percent of employees said a reward would make them feel either appreciated, motivated to work harder, or more loyal to the company. Seventy-nine percent of employees said that receiving an end-of-year reward would mean that they had done a great job and worked hard or that their employer appreciates and/or values them.

•  When asked what type of holiday gift they would like to receive, prepaid gift cards backed by Visa or MasterCard came out on top with 57%, over gift cards, company-branded merchandise, or cash. An overwhelming 85% of survey respondents said they would feel grateful if they received a prepaid card as a holiday reward this year. When asked about their favorite features of prepaid cards, the majority pointed to the fact that prepaid cards can be spent almost anywhere and at multiple retailers.

“Employees are not expecting rewards this year, but if they received one it would clearly foster positive attitudes and behavior that could help many companies compete in this tough economy,” said Juli Spottiswood, President & CEO of Parago, in a press release. “Whether it is for the holidays or as an end-of-year incentive, our research shows that employee rewards are dearly appreciated, no matter the value.”

«