You are in a great career and despite the challenges, you love every bit of your job. Then on a Sunday morning you receive a text instructing you not to report to work on Monday. How would you feel?
Patrick Maina has been working in a manufacturing company as a Warehouse Assistant for 4 years. When he started his job, he was convinced it was the right career. He would do his job well and even got praises from his supervisors for a job well done. But all this suddenly came to a stop thanks to a text message on a bright Sunday Morning.
How I was fired via a text message
This is his story
“Part of the company’s rules is that we were never allowed to communicate while in the office. My boss gave us instructions that nobody was allowed to use our phones during working hours. Even with such restrictions I never complained because I loved my job and besides, Ksh 50,000 salary a month was not that bad to someone with a young family.
It was on a Sunday Morning when I received a text message on my phone. The previous Friday evening, I had completed my daily duties. I even submitted my report to my supervisors and left the office. Since it was on a Sunday I did not expect any bad news because I knew all was well. Little did I know that the text message was going to ruin my entire day.
I opened the message and was shocked at its contents. It read; Hi Patrick. This is to inform you that we will no longer need your services at our company. Please don’t report to work on Monday and wait for further instructions on when you will receive your last paycheck.
The first thing that came to mind was -is this some kind of a joke or something? Surely the message was to the wrong person because there was no way I was being fired via text. Upon checking the sender, it was my immediate boss.
There was absolutely no reasons as to why he had fired me and I feel I deserve an explanation. It is such a big shame because there are rules and procedures to follow. I have never been disrespectful to my seniors or colleagues or have failed to work up to my expectations. After 4 years of hard work and dedication, is this all I deserve?
I can’t sleep at night thinking that I am going to be hitting the job market. How will I fend for my family without a salary? What is really upsetting me is that my boss chose to fire me via text message. My former colleagues have informed me that my desk already has a replacement. It is heartbreaking that all this time I was dedicating myself to my job, the boss was busy scheming behind my back.
Why couldn’t he be just man enough and do it in a procedural way? Can I sue him for that and is it legal?
