UK 
United States
A worker has been fired after refusing to apologise for a Facebook post in which called HR a “f***ing dog” over the sending of a company memo which he found insensitive – Daily Mail reports.
The Australian construction-industry worker, Ben Martin, was responding to a memo which said workers would be expected to continue working – just hours after a colleague committed suicide.
The memo read: “The site will remain open and employees will be expected to work… personal leave will not be granted without a doctor’s certificate.”
Martin, who has since deleted the post but has refused to apologise for it, said when the company asked him to explain his comments to them his employment was terminated.
He believes he is being singled out for questioning the memo. “I think I was targeted for posting about contractors' lack of sensitivity regarding the fact workers have taken their own lives on the project,” he told NT News.
“It was not a nice thing (for me) to write … but (the) memo didn't show any sensitivity to anyone, especially considering the timing.”
Construction company, JKC, who subcontracted Martin’s services, said that workplace health and safety was of paramount importance to the company.
“The Ichthys Project Onshore LNG Facilities maintains a zero-tolerance approach to offensive or intimidating behaviour of any form,” he said.
He said they investigated the comments and deemed it an appropriate action to remove Mr Martin's access to the project site and accommodation.
Many of the workers on the site are fly in fly out workers (FIFO) – who live and work on the site for a set period of time.
A 2015 research study by the Edith Cowan University, surveyed 629 FIFO workers from 143 different resource companies and found that 28% of those surveyed showed clear indicators of depression.
Local news outlet, ABC News, report that it was the 14th worker to commit suicide on the work site.
In the UK, a recent study found that over three-quarters of workers have experienced poor mental health with 62% attributing the state of their mental health to the workplace.
The same study, conducted by Business in the Community, found that only four per cent of employees would reach out to HR for help if they were struggling with their ill health.
What would you do with regards to the Ben Martin situation? Would you expect staff to come to work? What is best practise? Tell us in the comments…
VeniVidiVici
How many more suicides will it take before the Company concerned realises they have a major problem?
Like all news bites we are not made aware of the full situation or the company policy over mental health issues. They may indeed have an open door policy, but it begs the question - how open is that door? Judging by the memo, what do you think?
These workers are fly in , fly out. I envisage turn over is high so they may think " It'll be someone else's problem soon".
Use Social Media to berate the company you work for at your peril. Especially when the "dog" you berate has teeth. I do not condone the message he posted. Anger, resentment and frustration led to the post and there is never a worse time to use social media / email when these emotions are running high. Write how you feel, but delay a day before hitting the send button. 99.9% of the time you will be glad you took this approach.
Let's hope this will be the last suicide there. If action taken to prevent it going forwards then one good thing will have come out of this.
One last thought. If this man had not posted this on FB and been dismissed- would the suicide have merited any media coverage?
VeniVidiVici
How many more suicides will it take before the Company concerned realises they have a major problem?
Like all news bites we are not made aware of the full situation or the company policy over mental health issues. They may indeed have an open door policy, but it begs the question - how open is that door? Judging by the memo, what do you think?
These workers are fly in , fly out. I envisage turn over is high so they may think " It'll be someone else's problem soon".
Use Social Media to berate the company you work for at your peril. Especially when the "dog" you berate has teeth. I do not condone the message he posted. Anger, resentment and frustration led to the post and there is never a worse time to use social media / email when these emotions are running high. Write how you feel, but delay a day before hitting the send button. 99.9% of the time you will be glad you took this approach.
Let's hope this will be the last suicide there. If action taken to prevent it going forwards then one good thing will have come out of this.
One last thought. If this man had not posted this on FB and been dismissed- would the suicide have merited any media coverage?
Lauren
Joe Waller