Crowne Plaza Hotel sacks its staff WhatsApp group admin

A hotel worker has been sacked for being an administrator of a WhatsApp group that discussed issues touching on its management.

Gordon Rawour was summarily dismissed on 21^st April, after he declined a demand by management to resign from Crowne Plaza Hotel located in Nairobi’s Upper Hill, The Standard reports.

He was accused of inciting other employees through the WhatsApp platform where he was a co-administrator. His sacking will raise questions on freedom of expression and the use of social media at the workplace.

The termination letter was issued by the general manager, Anthony Ngunga.

“We regret to inform you that your contract of employment has been terminated with immediate effect on the basis of an employee WhatsApp group formed to discuss various staff issues.

You have been singled out as an administrator of this group whose discussions border on incitement and threaten a breach of peace at Crowne Plaza Ltd by using disrespectful language to the office of the general manager”.

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Reached for comment, the general manager said: “It is not professional for him to rush to the media yet he has not exhausted all the channels. The chats were quite negative and demeaning to the company.”

The affected employee is yet to take action against the company regarding the summary dismissal. But sacking will raise questions on freedom of expression and the use of social media at the workplace.

Most employees have resorted to social media forums like Facebook and Whatsapp to voice their frustrations and concerns. While such groups have secrecy setting, a member of the group can forward, copy or screen-shot chats to nonmembers.
[crp]