Best Buy & Geek Squad Policies

[GeraldVanceIII]

I was terminated from Best Buy abruptly and have moved on into another job already, but the manager who fired me posted on my facebook wall saying he fired me and mockingly saying "Are you mad we fired you ?" This made me extremely embarrassed and was totally uncalled for. Discretion in termination is not only  a best buy mandatory rule but a state law. I cannot call into HR as it is the weekend, but I need to know this information is being passed on. 

The store was 285 in Montrose Ohio.

The manager's name is Eric {removed per forum guidelines}.

I still have my employee number and all of my information in case it is needed but I do not wish to post it publicly.

If this issue is not taken care of, I will be pursuing the company legally. We have a company attourney who deals with things like this every week at my new job with a retainer that never gets used. I'm sure I could  call it a favor. I personally don't hold a grudge against the company, just the manager. But if the company does not take care of this the fault will lie with them as well. 

Please contact me:

{removed per forum guidelines}

[LiquidTension87]

Don't post on here...call HR

[LiquidTension87]

1-800-MYBBYHR or something like that....oh, and you don't want to post your employee number but you'll post your name, phone , and email....clever

[LiquidTension87]

One last thing (darn lack of edit button), make sure you take screen shots and gather as much info as possible. Your HR rep will not take this lightly, and the more info you can give them, the better the outcome will be for you.

[kst8no1]

He used a :-) he clearly was joking :-P

[SlimJim77]

If in fact you were terminated, nothing wrong has occurred. You do realize you have the power to remove wall post on facebook?

[Rrrrrrr]

---

SlimJim77 wrote:

If in fact you were terminated, nothing wrong has occurred. You do realize you have the power to remove wall post on facebook?

---

And the power to block individuals. Also could report him to facebook for harassment.

BTW the only thing that would be illegal is if a PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYER called him up and he said certain things to the prospective employer. Nothing stopping someone on their own time on non-company equipment for opening their yaps (unless theres a NDA involved). Although theres nothing to say you couldnt go after him personally for harassment, although I doubt you'd get anywheres with that.

Back in the restaurant business, I would had fired anyone who would pull a stunt like that. But we didnt have these social sites (nor the internet as we know it now) back then.

[CrimsonRain]

Social media/networking is a new, huge gray area for the realm of law. Some companies have tried to fire employees over it (Best Buy included) and others simply turn a blind eye. Most states do not even have definite laws regarding social media and the workplace. Any smart lawyer or legal team today wouldn't touch this issue with a 10-foot stick. The 2 biggest points when it comes to social media and your job are: 1) Are you "on the clock" so do your comments/antics reflect the company? and 2) Just because the comments/posts come under your profile does not necessarily mean you posted it. Tis a tricky issue...

On a side note, I'm not sure what state you live in, but in a majority of states, there is no discretion in termination. This is a huge common myth. It's more of professional courtesy and business etiquette. If a prospective employer calls up your former employer, they can pretty much spill the beans on you on just about anything you did ONLY if it were accurate facts with evidence to prove it. It's when your former employer lies about you is when it is illegal. This is why many companies have the HR department handle these calls because those HR folk know what to say, how to say it, and usually have the records to back it up.

[Ryan-BBY Senior Social Media Specialist]

Hey GeraldVancelll,

I just responded the PM you sent to me.  Please take a look at it when you have time.  Thank you so much!

[ncoclub]

---

CrimsonRain wrote:

Social media/networking is a new, huge gray area for the realm of law. Some companies have tried to fire employees over it (Best Buy included) and others simply turn a blind eye. Most states do not even have definite laws regarding social media and the workplace. Any smart lawyer or legal team today wouldn't touch this issue with a 10-foot stick. The 2 biggest points when it comes to social media and your job are: 1) Are you "on the clock" so do your comments/antics reflect the company? and 2) Just because the comments/posts come under your profile does not necessarily mean you posted it. Tis a tricky issue...

On a side note, I'm not sure what state you live in, but in a majority of states, there is no discretion in termination. This is a huge common myth. It's more of professional courtesy and business etiquette. If a prospective employer calls up your former employer, they can pretty much spill the beans on you on just about anything you did ONLY if it were accurate facts with evidence to prove it. It's when your former employer lies about you is when it is illegal. This is why many companies have the HR department handle these calls because those HR folk know what to say, how to say it, and usually have the records to back it up.

---

That is not accurate. The employer who fired you can only disclose DOCUMENTED reasons for the termination. NO write-ups, no hearsay. We terminated an employee who was stealing lottery tickets but could not get anything on tape. She was officially terminated for "inability to maintain merchendise counts". Also, many states have the "right to work " law. That means you can basically be fired at any time for any reason.