Bank Alfalah fired an employee for trolling a journalist on Twitter by being abusive, but it kinda backfired.
Social media has become increasingly commonplace, and the first thing that we turn to in the case of any minor inconvenience, or a major achievement. We keep ourselves updated with every minute of the story, and interact with hundreds, if not thousands, of people on a daily basis through our tweets, statuses and what not. And so, our social media reflects who we are as a person – or who we aspire to be, and you can get to learn a lot about someone just with a single scroll through their profile.
Recently, things took a turn for the worse when a Twitter user made a rather vile comment on a journalist’s commentary regarding Imran Khan’s latest address to the nation.
Journalist Hasan Zaidi came through with receipts. He posted screenshots of the guy, and tagged his employers, Bank Alfalah, to bring his inappropriate behavior to notice.
Dear @BankAlfalahPAK, this man works for you? Is this the level of scum you employ? pic.twitter.com/u8HbCgNS2k
— Hasan Zaidi (@hyzaidi) June 12, 2019
There was some backlash when he initially posted the tweets, and a few warnings of how the backlash would intensify given that the employers had been involved, but Zaidi reinforced how the user has a pattern of such inappropriate behavior, and that this wasn’t a one-off incident.
And if you think this was a one-off, have a look at the rest of his timeline. Do you allow such vile people into your ranks? pic.twitter.com/eqJutTxN7l
— Hasan Zaidi (@hyzaidi) June 12, 2019
Soon after, Bank Alfalah tweeted out an official statement clearly denoting that the employee had been let go of due to his behavior.
The statement said that the Bank has a zero-tolerance policy against personal attacks and use of offensive language and that they don’t subscribe to or endorse such behavior.
— Bank Alfalah (@BankAlfalahPAK) June 13, 2019
The entire episode, however, hasn’t settled well with the public, and the hashtag “#BoycottBankAlfalah” has been trending over Twitter, demanding justice for the man who sent the abusive tweet to be treated “fairly.”
The redundancy without an inquiry seemed rather harsh to some, and people demanded a fair trial instead
The language used by that employee of @BankAlfalahPAK was condemnable. However, it’s an individual act which was not committed at the workplace. Firing that employee without any proper inquiry is shameful. Down with this fascism. #BoycottBankAlFalah https://t.co/pq18oIKVmH
— Ali Salman Alvi (@alisalmanalvi) June 13, 2019
People believed that Alfalah has ended up doing some severe PR damage.
The Bank is never going to recover the PR damage they've received today. Don't condone the behaviour of the guy or the self proclaimed libs for that matter. Firing people without due process only shows the rot which lies inside the highest tier of the bank.#BoycottBankAlFalah
— Shahid Raza. (@schaheid) June 13, 2019
People even questioned the authority and validity of the decision making authorities at Alfalah and asked why the cybercrime unit wasn’t involved first
Is the CEO of Bank AlFalah a sitting judge of cyber crime that he owns the authority to punish someone for their private opinion which has nothing to do with the bank itself? Why did not the journalist go to FIA cyber crime wing?#BoycottBankAlFalah
— Dr Farhan K Virk (@FarhanKVirk) June 13, 2019
FIA cyber crime must take action against @BankAlfalahPAK for stepping into their jurisdiction without taking their consent.
An institution and especially a banking institution should always remain apolitical #BoycottBankAlFalah
— Dr Farhan K Virk (@FarhanKVirk) June 13, 2019
There were some to point out how behavior like this is common on social media and one should have thick skin to face it all
So cursing somebody on social media would lead to get U fired from the job? -How about these so called "sensitive people " get their skin thick before join social media. – If you are so fucking thin skinned, sit home & get your ego massaged from your Mom. #BoycottBankAlFalah
— Sohail Cheema MD (@sohailcheemamd) June 13, 2019
However, it must be noted that a social media mask or persona does not dissolve people of any kind of accountability. Having a voice on social media does not mean you can get away with being inappropriate and these arguments further normalize that toxic behavior.
Moreover, people started digging up Zaidi’s old tweets, saying he himself abuses many of the people who disagree with him and yet he gets to get away with it all
Don't condone ur employee's act of cussing Hasan Zaidi's mother, but to sack that him for a mistake he has already apologized for, is nonsense. Particularly considering the fact that Zaidi himself is a massive foul mouth.
Overturne this decision or be ready 4 #BoycottBankAlFalah https://t.co/TLJjtXMGmL
— Ehtesham (@ShamiHere_) June 13, 2019
Pls boycott Bank Alfalah & Dawn.
Bank Alfalah fired an employee for using bad language on personal Twitter account after which Hasan Zaidi (Editor Dawn) started twitter campaign against the bank employee.
Hasan himself regularly uses petty insults & profanity towards others. pic.twitter.com/ILWlduXmD1
— SocialPariah (@Non_granta) June 13, 2019
It has come to a point where people are shutting their accounts down and asking everyone to not make any transactions through Alfalah.
it's my request to overseas Pakistanis don't send your remittances in Pakistan while using any money transfer services in Bank Al-Falah Branches. Please use other Pakistani banks instead of bank Al-Falah. Send emails to respective money transfers
@MeFixerr#BoycottBankAlFalah pic.twitter.com/Bmd4JS6eBC
— محمد عمران (@pakistani_4_evr) June 13, 2019
If @BankAlfalahPAK is going to remove the guy, then I'm going to close all my accounts in the bank
My personal account, my family members account & our family business account too.
The Bank is listening to those who are themselves ethically & morally corrupt#BoycottBankAlFalah https://t.co/kxJe8pareQ— Hassan (@farhanitrade) June 13, 2019
However, Hasan Zaidi did clarify his intentions, saying he only wanted to bring his behavior to the employer’s notice – not actually get him fired
I should also clarify that I did not formally ask for the lout to be fired. I asked the bank to take serious notice of his repeated abusive behaviour. The action was taken by the bank and I support their taking it very seriously.
— Hasan Zaidi (@hyzaidi) June 13, 2019
An online persona does not mean that you abuse and troll freely – there has to be some accountability. However, as Zaidi himself stated, he didn’t technically ask the man to be fired. Was the company’s decision a bit severe?
It does, however, inculcate a sense of alarm, considering one of the top trends is actually in support of the man who carried out abusive behavior, instead of the man who raised the concern directly with the abuser’s employers.
What do you think about this entire fiasco? Let us know in the comments!
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