Casey's Fires Clerk Over YouTube Videos Shot in Store
ANKENY, Iowa -- Casey's General Stores fired a store clerk for creating a Web video showing the company's pizza-making process, and the former associate is now retaliating via YouTube, the Des Moines Register reported.
Tierney Israel, 19, of Pleasantville, Iowa, is one of a growing number of Iowans who have lost their jobs for sharing certain kinds of material with the rest of the world via Web sites such as Facebook, MySpace or YouTube, according to the newspaper.
Casey's fired Israel after her boss discovered she had uploaded to the Web at least three videos she shot inside the Pleasantville Casey’s store where she worked. One of the videos showed how Casey's pizzas are prepared, which violated a company policy that prohibits workers from revealing corporate secrets.
The video also included satirical material showing a "disgruntled" Casey's employee waving a knife at a customer portrayed by Israel's sister, the report stated.
In late April, Israel's supervisor learned of the video and two others that were uploaded to the Web in 2007. The two earlier videos featured another Casey's employee making pizza and singing while inside the store. The direction and editing were credited to Israel.
After Israel was fired, she posted yet another video to YouTube called "F--- Casey's." The profanity-laced video, which is still online, is prefaced with a written description: "Listen to Tierney (expletive) about being treated like (expletive) by a company that doesn't give a (expletive) about anyone but their greedy selves." Viewers of the clip are encouraged to donate to the "Tierney Is Now Jobless Fund."
Israel defends her previous videos, saying, "I like to have fun. Who doesn't, you know, like to have fun at work? I'm not here to hurt people or break the rules and (expletive)."
Casey's unsuccessfully contested Israel’s application for unemployment benefits. The matter went to a public hearing before Administrative Law Judge James Timberland, who found that while Israel's actions showed a "willful disregard" for Casey's interests, the company waited too long—eight days—to speak to Israel after it learned of her conduct, the Des Moines Register reported.
Timberland said Israel's pizza-making video shared proprietary information and clearly "demonstrated open hostility and a threat directed at customers and staff."
Related News:
Casey's Finds No Lack of Job Applicants
Tierney Israel, 19, of Pleasantville, Iowa, is one of a growing number of Iowans who have lost their jobs for sharing certain kinds of material with the rest of the world via Web sites such as Facebook, MySpace or YouTube, according to the newspaper.
Casey's fired Israel after her boss discovered she had uploaded to the Web at least three videos she shot inside the Pleasantville Casey’s store where she worked. One of the videos showed how Casey's pizzas are prepared, which violated a company policy that prohibits workers from revealing corporate secrets.
The video also included satirical material showing a "disgruntled" Casey's employee waving a knife at a customer portrayed by Israel's sister, the report stated.
In late April, Israel's supervisor learned of the video and two others that were uploaded to the Web in 2007. The two earlier videos featured another Casey's employee making pizza and singing while inside the store. The direction and editing were credited to Israel.
After Israel was fired, she posted yet another video to YouTube called "F--- Casey's." The profanity-laced video, which is still online, is prefaced with a written description: "Listen to Tierney (expletive) about being treated like (expletive) by a company that doesn't give a (expletive) about anyone but their greedy selves." Viewers of the clip are encouraged to donate to the "Tierney Is Now Jobless Fund."
Israel defends her previous videos, saying, "I like to have fun. Who doesn't, you know, like to have fun at work? I'm not here to hurt people or break the rules and (expletive)."
Casey's unsuccessfully contested Israel’s application for unemployment benefits. The matter went to a public hearing before Administrative Law Judge James Timberland, who found that while Israel's actions showed a "willful disregard" for Casey's interests, the company waited too long—eight days—to speak to Israel after it learned of her conduct, the Des Moines Register reported.
Timberland said Israel's pizza-making video shared proprietary information and clearly "demonstrated open hostility and a threat directed at customers and staff."
Related News:
Casey's Finds No Lack of Job Applicants