RBS worker loses redundancy payout over Facebook comments

RBS worker loses redundancy payout over Facebook comments

A Royal Bank of Scotland back office worker is taking the lender to a tribunal after she was sacked for boasting about an expected redundancy payout on Facebook.

In September the state-backed bank outlined plans to axe 3500 back office support and technology jobs around the country, largely as a result of the sale of 318 branches to Santander.

Within minutes of hearing the news, Katie Furlong, a debt officer based in Telford, Shropshire, took to Facebook, posting: "I speak for myself when I say WoOOOOooooOooooHOoooOooOoo' it was pretty damn obvious something like this was coming.

"I'm neither stupid nor naive . . . and quote (sic) honestly it is the best news ever as far as I am concerned!"

Furlong, who expected a £6000 payout, later added: "Hung on by my fingertips to stick around long enough for a nice payout when they could've had me out long ago without a penny! More fool them! Haha! Xx"

However, a colleague saw the posts and reported Furlong to management, leading to suspension pending a disciplinary hearing. She was later sacked for breaching "declaration of secrecy" amounting to "gross misconduct".

Furlong is now taking RBS to tribunal for unfair dismissal, telling reporters: "The information was already out there. All I was doing was having a chat with mates. I don't feel I should have been sacked. They got rid of me so they didn't have to pay redundancy."

Comments: (1)

A Finextra member
A Finextra member 30 November, 2010, 11:52Be the first to give this comment the thumbs up 0 likes

You could say RBS has shown banks they can save money from social networking, but that would be too cruel on Miss Furlong.

But this is just like someone overhearing someone in a bar talking and reporting them.

I note that the section she works for in Telford is the bank's debt collection department, I'm sure the irony of having money taken away won't be lost on someone who, well takes people's money away.

Nice friends you have, Miss Furlong. Choose more carefully next time!

 

 

 

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