HR can make great use of company Intranets to post things like policies and information about benefits. Probably everyone would agree that employees’ termination dates are something that the Intranet should not be used for.
About 50 employees of Sirius XM satellite radio found out their termination dates by checking the company’s internal payroll Web site.
One employee went to the site on Oct. 14 and was startled to find a termination date of Oct. 15 on his/her record, according to industry publication Radio and Records.
In just moments, employees within shouting distance of their co-worker were logged on to try and find out their fates.
Shortly after that, access to the site was reportedly denied, but by then, the damage had been done.
Reports say an emergency management meeting was held, memos from HR began flying, and the fired workers were formally contacted.
The layoffs probably didn’t come as a complete surprise. Sirius and XM merged earlier this year. The new company’s CEO, Mel Karmazin, has been quoted for months saying the combined companies would save money through “synergies.”
