Dismissal within a month ??

Ms Tootsie

A family member started a job in a customer faced field where he took down customer data. He has been working in the job a month when as customer called and said he tried to add her on Facebook. As a result he was immediately fired.

He denies trying to add her on Facebook, offered the employer his own personal Facebook activity log to prove his innocence and asked if there is a 'Facebook request email' or any kind of proof this allegation is true. There is no proof and the employer has refused to look at his own Facebook log as they 'do not review personal information'. The argument of the employer is that they have to take the customers word against his word.

This is quite a large organisation and they have proper HR procedures in place, what I want to know is there anyway he can challenge this? He really likes the job and the people but is angry that he is being dismissed without any chance to defend himself.

He is quite young and only in the employment industry a few years and has never had any experience of anything like this before so this is really getting him down.

metroburgers

Without going into the details, clarify if he was on probation in this first month, if he was he can be dismissed over anything.

Going into the details, if a customer contacts a business complaining they have been 'requested as a friend' on Facebook by a staff member as a result of some prior communication/access to data, I'd presume the customer will have some sort of proof.

I think the family member hasn't told you the truth, why would a customer complain like this if it didn't happen?

For the employer to look at his FB profile would be an invasion of his personal privacy.

Ms Tootsie

Thanks Metro Burgers. He was on probation. Honestly he wouldnt lie to me about it. He freely showed me his logs and there is nothing there. The line of work he does isnt particularly loved so complaints come in all the time (not for him this is his first). I just thought the organisation should be willing to do more than instantly dismiss him over a his word against hers scenario??

He wasnt offered the chance to have his line manager in the room, no written warning just instantly fired.

If that is the case what is to stop someone who has a grudge ringing up and getting someone fired?

Edited to mention it is very easy for a customer to have details since the interaction in the first place was face to face.

metroburgers

Probation means he can be pretty much dismissed without reason.

I understand where you're coming from regarding a nasty customer with a grudge against staff member, but there might be more to this story than a 'request a friend' accusation. Employer probably has huge history/experience dealing with staff complaints and I would imagine they made careful, measured decision to dismiss.

Verbal/written warning prob not needed under probation.

Probably very frustrating to you, as you don't know what happened/the truth and you probably never will.