Mashable - The Social Media Guide - Latest Comments in CPK Server Fired for Tweets: Did He Deserve It?

Re: CPK Server Fired for Tweets: Did He Deserve It?

LVK — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 10:48:26 -0000

I completely agree. It is not that he expressed discontent, but that he did not go through the proper channels to do so. The same thing happened at a company I was working for. It is not about the issue, it's about how he handled it. Had he gone to his manager to express himself, he probably would not be in this situation.

Re: CPK Server Fired for Tweets: Did He Deserve It?

nita12 — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:24:30 -0000

Although your thoughts on demo may not be completely right as I'm 21 and totally side with CPK, I agree with you completely on everything else you've posted. Just because CPK doesn't have a social media policy (I mean, come on, what company does?) doesn't mean that what you do outside of work has nothing to do with work. When you have a Facebook account and Twitter and whatever else is out there, it's public!! Lots of employers these days are checking these things and for many companies, it may be the deciding factor. What you post can be seen by millions of people...that is unless you set everything to private. Don't be so fuckin retarded and think that no one is going to read it.

I also think that those of you who said that CPK should promote him is absolutely absurd! We all know that a lot of us have friends on Facebook or whatever that we don't talk to or are constantly stalking online. For someone that would say things like that about a company he represented for, well, let's just say I sure as hell wouldn't want him working for me!

He was being totally selfish and ignorant about the uniforms. Fine if it's his opinion, but because black would make his frame look even smaller?!?! Seriously?? Work out or something then! Stop wasting time making these ridiculous videos and do something about it. What is complaining about the uniforms going to do? Haha, except get you fired in which you now have no job??

Not to mention a detail that maybe not many people have thought about...perhaps if he was a valuable asset to his restaurant and was a great waiter, maybe they wouldn't have fired him? Maybe this Tweet thing was the last straw...?

Re: CPK Server Fired for Tweets: Did He Deserve It?

jimgoldstein — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:26:01 -0000

If they didn't have a policy communicated to their employees about social media then in my opinion they certainly were not in a position to fire him for his Tweet. They should have reprimanded him. That being said California is an at-will employer. At-will employees may be terminated for any reason, so long as it's not illegal. Thanks for the reply.

Re: CPK Server Fired for Tweets: Did He Deserve It?

another ex-cpk worker — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:48:26 -0000

They don't. The rule is that employees can't do anything unbecoming while in uniform or take pictures or cell videos inside the building, so unless they've seriously overhauled the code of conduct in the five weeks since I stopped working there, there was no policy about talking about the company on twitter, facebook, or myspace.

Re: CPK Server Fired for Tweets: Did He Deserve It?

abelniak — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:04:44 -0000

If this employee said the same comment to the employers face, would that have gotten him fired? Maybe not, but pretty close. What if that same employee announced his feelings about black button-down shirts with a bullhirn, walking through the dining room? Probably. Though not a direct analogy, it's close: the reach of social media is broad. If he wanted to vent, why not create another Twitter profile, lock it down, and only invite friends?

Re: CPK Server Fired for Tweets: Did He Deserve It?

danielbengtsson — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 08:20:49 -0000

Video got re-uploaded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TJ-V8wI7Sk

Edit: Crap only found the "Show more comments" now.

Re: CPK Server Fired for Tweets: Did He Deserve It?

sinaf88 — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:04:13 -0000

Hey everyone

I actually wrote about this on the day Tim posted the video, check out my company blog for it. I also have the new re-uploaded video so you can see his side of the story.

http://peopull.com/twitter-...

Re: CPK Server Fired for Tweets: Did He Deserve It?

thelatemrshunt — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 22:46:59 -0000

alanna1403 "What that person decides to do outside of work and say to people outside of work should have nothing to do with their employer."

Alanna, I totally disagree with this. What you post when social networking is a representation of your general character, and your employer has every right to know what type of person is working for him/her, or if they should even hire you. Your posts exhibit the 'real you' and the values, or lack of, that you embrace and choose to live by.

Re: CPK Server Fired for Tweets: Did He Deserve It?

Ronn — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 22:27:37 -0000

Has CPK responded?

Re: CPK Server Fired for Tweets: Did He Deserve It?

Jen — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 22:24:28 -0000

He had to reupload the video. It's back up again: http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Re: CPK Server Fired for Tweets: Did He Deserve It?

jimgoldstein — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 17:09:43 -0000

Here's a thought...
What people lose sight of is that when you sign on as an employee you often sign paperwork agreeing to a code of conduct. That covers in person interaction and online interaction. If you agree to those terms then you'll be held accountable. I find it surprising that people feel he's a victim. Were I making the call I'd have handled it differently. Clearly those making the decision on this didn't understand the long term implications of their old school approach. I don't agree with it, but that was their decision to make. For all I know this guy took a job 1 day a week and did this just to get attention to his hip-hop CD. Not likely but it's possible.

Re: CPK Server Fired for Tweets: Did He Deserve It?

Ruth Weal — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:41:19 -0000

Surely though there is a wider issue around whether companies have a right to dictate how you speak about them on your own time. After all, there is no way they can regulate how you would speak about them at a party to friends, or in private, so why should they be able to do it online? They may not like that you speak ill of them, but you are not required to like your employer and I would venture that there are many people who don't.

I do believe that when you work for a company you are it's representative and a reflection of it's brand, but the onus has to be on the company to ensure that you have the level of engagement with your employees that they feel pride and responsibility to their employer. This also goes with ensuring you employ the right people, with the right attitudes that reflect your company values wherever possible.

Companies need to recognise that employees don't generally live to work, they work to live and many people are disengaged with management and policy because they don't have any sense of personal responsibility and are not properly communicated to or feel the value of their contribution.

CPK has materially damaged it's brand by responding to such a silly statement in such a strong and public way. Perhaps they should be reviewing their employee engagement and communication methods and policies rather than punishing their employee's truthful (if a little vitriolic) opinions.

Re: CPK Server Fired for Tweets: Did He Deserve It?

jimgoldstein — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:35:07 -0000

It would seem he references a communication policy was brought up as justification for his dismissal. Posting online is forever... this incident will follow him around if he is looking for meaningful employment in any corporation. I'm all for free speech, but you have to be smart and think long-term with these things. I hope for his sake he is able to leverage his temporary notoriety to do something outside of the corporate world. Everyone's dirt is only a Google search away these days.

Re: CPK Server Fired for Tweets: Did He Deserve It?

Ruth Weal — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:31:08 -0000

I would agree that his actions were wrong, whether they required an instance of firing I would disagree. Perhaps he has caused trouble before and this was the cherry on the pie, but I think in isolation it warranted perhaps a warning, but not firing.

In the end though CPK was short sighted and has garnered much more bad publicity. Had they played at Timothy's game and responded in less of a knee jerk manner and perhaps stated there reasons for the uniform change they might have come out a lot more favourably than they have done.

Re: CPK Server Fired for Tweets: Did He Deserve It?

Ruth Weal — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:26:01 -0000

I don't live in the States, but I thought you had that "freedom of speech" thing that you hold so dear? Surely firing an employee for expressing his right to free speech is wrong? Surely social media is covered under freedom of speech? In the UK and Europe he would likely have been given a warning, we have very strong employee rights (though no freedom speech act), which make for a fair system.

Re: CPK Server Fired for Tweets: Did He Deserve It?

jimgoldstein — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:24:24 -0000

Does anyone know if CPK has a communication policy covering Social Media? This is the keystone to this whole debate. If CPK doesn't have their act together to educate their employees about Social Media, its impact on business and the manner that is deemed acceptable as it relates to talking about their business then they over reacted and it's their fault. Ultimately his behavior was unprofessional and if they did have a communication policy covering acceptable social media use as it relates to the CPK then they acted with in their right... as noted in my earlier comment. Personally it would seem they over reacted not weighing the pros and cons of firing him.

No longer do companies control their brand outright and this is proof.

Re: CPK Server Fired for Tweets: Did He Deserve It?

Wandafay — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:20:57 -0000

I understand what you're saying but it wasn't defamation of character or company name or company pizza. It was a kid expressing how he felt about the uniforms he had to wear. We twitter all kinds of expressions it's twitter world for goodness sake. The company could have took him aside or had a company meeting and told everybody in advance if they tweeted anything at all using the company name in any way that they would be fired. I am just expressing how I feel about this. Maybe I am wrong.

Re: CPK Server Fired for Tweets: Did He Deserve It?

JP — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:00:34 -0000

I think its lame that if a consumer complains companies rush to their aid. If an employee complains they fire them.

Re: CPK Server Fired for Tweets: Did He Deserve It?

Doc Emmit Brown — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:51:01 -0000

As a consumer of pizza I will no longer patronize CPK stores and I will encourage my network of friends and family to do the same.

The way CPK corporate have acted in this instance is pathetic and disgraceful. They turned a minor instance into major one, whether you agree with CPK or not, the real issue is: Whats the big f**#ing deal CPK? Had they left well enough alone, they would have minimized the impact of this employees criticism, instead they maximized exposure by firing him. Surprise, he turned to social media to vent his frustration. How stupid is this company?

Therefore, I will no longer buy CPK products or eat at CPK restaurants, because its obvious that CPK is the type of company that treats their employees like sh*t, and wastes everybody's time and money. Bravo CPK corporate, Bravo.

Re: CPK Server Fired for Tweets: Did He Deserve It?

MykalBoss — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:43:01 -0000

A warning or suspension would have been far more appropriate. Every employee contrary to popular belief is not a brand representative of the company. Those paid to represent the brand of the company are the brand representatives of the company. When he is on the clock, he represents the company, though not the brand. Brands are unique things and differentiate one business from another. Yet all businesses expect employees to be professional and courteous, thus that experience can't be branded or trademarked. Did he inappropriately communicate clearly. Are there better ways to say what he said, clearly. Did CPK have other options besides firing him, clearly. This of course is why, CPK's stated policy in regards to social media is the first consideration above all else, given that policy removes emotion from the equation and dictates beforehand potential repercussions. If they do not have a written policy that has been distributed and signed by employees, they are on shaky legal ground regardless what management may feel. Conversely, if they have a written policy that has completed all policy steps, which Tim previously understood and signed, obviously the onus of his actions shifts to Tim. In that you speak of brand, what would CPK's media capital be in your eyes if you found that they as a corporation were out on Twitter, tweeting away but had no written policy? If you put forth that as a mere employee, he's a brand representative, then I'm sure you accept that the same goes for the CEOs and management of CPK even morso, who are being watched now by their peers as they made a previously unknown event quite public. It will be interesting to see how prepared they were for this eventuality. Maybe one can brand PREPARED.

Re: CPK Server Fired for Tweets: Did He Deserve It?

Tommy — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:29:16 -0000

But yet every major company can be found on a social network...I wonder why. Social media cannot be measured in the same format as traditional advertising as you can't particularly measure word-of-mouth advertising, but you know it works.

If CPK furthered their research to find Tim they'd discover that he is a YouTube celeb; #31 most subscribed to comedian (All Time), #40 most viewed (All Time), over 32 mil. video views and a few sponsorships here and there. This guy has over 130k people voluntarily wanting to watch his videos. CPK would've been smart to leverage this and use him as some sort of spokesman.

Understanding YouTube celebs have their own audiences Carl's Jr. (or Hardee's to some of you) recently launched a campaign featuring 9 YouTube celebs. Sanyo, Nickelodeon, Butterfinger and many other companies have tapped these stars to promote their product as well, and you can expect a lot of this.

Sticking a piece of cheese up your nose and then placing it on a sandwich to give to a customer as the Domino's employee did is "unprofessional behavior," complaining about your uniform is not. If CPK thought what Tim did tarnished their brand, then they can be up for a huge surprise if Tim wishes to further "tarnish" CPK. By then, Tim will just be an ex-employee and CPK can just get over it, right?

Re: CPK Server Fired for Tweets: Did He Deserve It?

Marryam H Reshii — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:19:47 -0000

Hey, is the employer's name Hitler or Fuhrer? If so, Timothy being fired is justified. Otherwise, no.

Re: CPK Server Fired for Tweets: Did He Deserve It?

Kenya — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:10:39 -0000

He sent the tweet to California Pizza Kitchen's corporate Twitter account (@calpizzakitchen). They are an international chain so I doubt that anyone is going to sit down with him. It is likely that his supervisors and managers all got into trouble for his tweet.

Re: CPK Server Fired for Tweets: Did He Deserve It?

Andrew — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:08:34 -0000

He removed the vid in concern of his youtube account becoming disabled. He re-uploaded with a new edited version: http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Re: CPK Server Fired for Tweets: Did He Deserve It?

Brent — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:06:38 -0000

Craig, I'm 40, work full time 40+ hrs a week for an international company. And ironically, I find myself siding with the employee in this case. Saying his new uniform sucked publicly is NOT grounds for being fired no more so than if I said wearing business suits to my office is friggin stupid (which fortunately I don't have to because I HATE business suits).

And I agree with what others are saying to a certain extent. Essentially what I do in my free time off the clock is my business. What I wear, where I go, who I hang out with, and what I say even in a public place is my business not my employers. Of course there's a thin line in regards to libel. If I complain about a coworker while out in a public restaurant with friends though is still my business. Again its really a very fine line based on whats being said. If I flat out said in public that my company is shitty, pays like crap, and is filled with assholes (which it isn't any of those again thankfully - well not entirely on the last one, but every job/office has their assholes and its our responsibility to come in and work with them professionally despite it).

Clearly CPK overreacted. I agree with what others are saying, they should have addressed the issue of the uniform publicly.