IT'S GOT TO BE ONE OF THE DUMBEST THINGS I'VE EVER HEARD. A NEW ZEALAND WOMAN WAS FIRED FOR USING ALL CAPS IN HER EMAILS.
Vicki Walker, an accountant from Auckland, was fired for sending "confrontational" emails that had capitalized, bold-faced, and red letters.
She was fired by text message.
Not really. But she was awarded $17,000 for unfair dismissal, and is going to lodge an appeal for additional compensation, said an article in the New Zealand Herald.
Walker is now calling for greater protection for white-collar workers when they are in a dispute with big corporations.
"I am a single woman with a mortgage, and I had to re-mortgage my home and borrow money from my sister to make it through," she said. "They nearly ruined my life."
New Zealand's Employment Relations Authority determined that Walker was unfairly fired.
"WE FIND IN FAVOR OF THE COMPLAINANT."
Walker's former employer, ProCare Health, said that Walker had a negative effect on company morale when she sent a series of emails that used all capitals, bold type, and red text in her emails.
Walker said ProCare had talke about a number of emails, but they had used only one in an email.
"THEY SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT MORE EVIDENCE," said Walker. (Not really).
ERA member Alastair Dumbleton said Walker had received no warnings, and while she may have caused "disharmony in the workplace," it wasn't enough that dismissal was fair or reasonable.
Dumbleton cited the fact that ProCare didn't have an established style guide regarding email etiquette. While Walker should have known that all caps can be annoying, it's one of the email etiquette quirks that people have.
ProCare did not respond to the New Zealand Herald's request for comment.
THEY MUST BE A BUNCH OF SORE LOSERS.
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Vicki Walker, an accountant from Auckland, was fired for sending "confrontational" emails that had capitalized, bold-faced, and red letters.
She was fired by text message.
Not really. But she was awarded $17,000 for unfair dismissal, and is going to lodge an appeal for additional compensation, said an article in the New Zealand Herald.
Walker is now calling for greater protection for white-collar workers when they are in a dispute with big corporations.
"I am a single woman with a mortgage, and I had to re-mortgage my home and borrow money from my sister to make it through," she said. "They nearly ruined my life."
New Zealand's Employment Relations Authority determined that Walker was unfairly fired.
"WE FIND IN FAVOR OF THE COMPLAINANT."
Walker's former employer, ProCare Health, said that Walker had a negative effect on company morale when she sent a series of emails that used all capitals, bold type, and red text in her emails.
Walker said ProCare had talke about a number of emails, but they had used only one in an email.
"THEY SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT MORE EVIDENCE," said Walker. (Not really).
ERA member Alastair Dumbleton said Walker had received no warnings, and while she may have caused "disharmony in the workplace," it wasn't enough that dismissal was fair or reasonable.
Dumbleton cited the fact that ProCare didn't have an established style guide regarding email etiquette. While Walker should have known that all caps can be annoying, it's one of the email etiquette quirks that people have.
ProCare did not respond to the New Zealand Herald's request for comment.
THEY MUST BE A BUNCH OF SORE LOSERS.
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