A Lithia spokesperson instructed Automotive News that the worker was “let go” Friday for violating the corporate’s social media coverage.
The former worker’s profile is now not on the dealership’s web site, and their Facebook profile additionally seems to have been eliminated.
“We understand there was a comment from one of our employees on social media recently that hurt many people,” the dealership’s Facebook publish mentioned. “Although we cannot control a individual from voicing their opinion on social media, Suburban Ford of Ferndale doesn’t support the same message and supports all UAW workers, and we support their right to strike.”
The UAW launched a historic strike towards all three Detroit automakers final Friday. About 13,000 employees at three crops — one every from General Motors, Ford Motor Co. and Stellantis — are on strike. The Ford plant is Michigan Assembly in Wayne, which is also within the Detroit space.
UAW President Shawn Fain introduced in a Monday video that the automakers have a deadline of midday this Friday to make “serious progress” in negotiations earlier than he expands the “stand-up strike.”
Suburban Ford of Ferndale is a part of Lithia’s Suburban Collection in southeast Michigan. Lithia purchased the big non-public group in April 2021.
A handful of individuals left destructive evaluations on the dealership’s Facebook web page, voicing their displeasure with the previous worker’s feedback. In addition, a number of older Facebook posts by the dealership have been crammed with commenters voicing their frustration.
Thom Fladung, managing companion for disaster communications firm Hennes Communications in Cleveland, mentioned the whole lot on social media doubtlessly can go viral.
“Inappropriate use of social media by employees is one of the most frequent self-inflicted crises that we see,” Fladung instructed Automotive News.
Fladung mentioned everybody has the flexibility to say what they need on social media, however with a caveat: Employees have to understand the influence it might have on their employer.
And workers ought to notice their actions might produce other penalties, he mentioned.
“You always represent that employer in some way or other,” Fladung mentioned. “What we saw here is always possible.”
Lithia, of Medford, Ore., ranks No. 1 on Automotive News‘ record of the highest 150 dealership teams primarily based within the U.S., retailing 271,596 new automobiles in 2022. Lithia’s gross sales figures embrace dealerships outdoors the U.S.
Source: www.autonews.com