Sixteen-year-old Kimberley Swann has been sacked from Ivell Marketing & Logistics in Clacton-on-Sea, England. Her boss, Stephen Ivell had seen comments she had left for her friends on her Facebook page.

We all have had a good moan about our jobs from time to time. But from now on, you had better be careful where you do it.

Kimberley Swann started work as an office administrator just under a month ago. The first day was not what she had hopped it would be. She posted to Facebook, "first day at work. omg !! So dull!!" Then two days later, "all i do is shred holepunch n scan paper!!! omg!" Another fortnight produced, "im so totally bord!!!"

On Feb. 23, Ms Swann was called into the office of boss, Stephen Ivell and sacked on the spot. She was handed a letter and marched from the offices. The letter said:

"Following your comments made on Facebook about your job and the company we feel it is better that, as you are not happy and do not enjoy your work, we end your employment with Ivell Marketing & Logistics with immediate effect.

Ms Swann told the Daily Mail:

"I didn't even put the company's name, I just put that my job was boring. They were just being nosy, going through everything. I think it is really sad, it makes them look stupid that they are going to be so petty.

Is posing a comment on Facebook any different from making the same comments to a friend in a public place? Ms Swann thinks Mr Ivell overreacted, she said:

"I was an office administrator, so of course it was boring at first and I knew it would get more interesting. I was happy there, although they said I wasn't. It's not fair. I think it's really out of order but there is nothing I can do now.

Mr Ivell told the Daily Mail his firm had done everything by the book:

"We were looking for a long-term relationship with Miss Swann as we do with all our staff. Her display of disrespect and dissatisfaction undermined the relationship and made it untenable. "It is unfortunate that we didn't come up to Miss Swann's expectations on this occasion and we wish her every success in the future

Mr Ivell appears to be motivated by protecting his company's image. According to Miss Swann:

"He called me into the office and said, 'I have seen your comments on Facebook and I don't want my company being in the news.' They said it was not good for the company.

If that was the objective then this heavy-handed action has backfired gaining Ivell Marketing & Logistics national coverage in the UK MSM and internationally on the internet.

However, this is another warning for any users of social media sites. Do not ever consider them private or erasable.

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