Stamp it out | WhatsApp group bullying of employee stresses need for HR crackdown

Five firefighters were sacked after allegedly bullying and harassing a female colleague in a WhatsApp group, including sharing a photo of a pig in a thong, an employment tribunal has heard.

Birmingham Live first reported on the incident occurring at West Midlands Fire Service, involving several crew members who are accused of sending the messages about their female co-worker in a group chat on the messaging platform.

One message sent in reference to the woman was a picture of a pig in a thong, the hearing was told.

All five of the men, who were sacked without notice following an investigation into the messages, are challenging their dismissals at a tribunal, claiming they were "targeted" by the fire service after raising complaints about certain aspects of a fire service training programme.