People have asked, “Aunty, can the company terminate me if I exit my company’s WhatsApp group? Going mental!”
Well, it depends how smart is the company’s HR. I give you two real-life court cases:
Case 1 – Company Tidak Berjaya: The company terminated an employee from leaving the company’s WhatsApp group without permission, interpreting the exit as an act of resignation. It was the second incident, and while the employee had been verbally warned before, no official warning letter had been issued. Plus, the importance of WhatsApp as a communication tool wasn’t mentioned in the employee’s contract, company SOP, or any policies. As a result, the company lost the case in industrial court.
Case 2 – Company Berjaya: Here, WhatsApp was formally established as a required communication channel in company policy, serving as an important tool for management to convey instructions. When an employee exited the group for the second time without permission, she received a formal warning letter, as the company had made it clear that leaving the group required approval. Thanks to clear documentation and proper disciplinary procedures, the company won the case.
Proper documentation is gold for establishing and maintaining clear, fair communication channels and ensuring policies are understood by everyone. So, can you be fired for leaving a company WhatsApp group? Yes, but only if your HR is sharp enough to have the right policies and documentation in place.
If you want to join Team Company Berjaya, learning how to effectively manage discipline in the workplace with my HR INTERRUPTED: MANAGING DISCIPLINE class, including proper documentation, this is my last call for 2024. Email my partner in crime Brandon at brandon.j@aislingpd.com.
xoxoxo, AuntyHR
