Twitter Contests €550,000 WRC prize granted to ex-Dublin manager, allegedly exploiting a prime chance for departure from job role.
In the heart of Ireland's Labour Court, a contentious case is unfolding between Gary Rooney, a former executive at Twitter, and the tech giant, now known as X, following Elon Musk's acquisition. The crux of the dispute revolves around Rooney's departure from the company's Dublin office, with Rooney claiming he was unfairly dismissed, while Twitter maintains that he chose to leave.
Rooney, who served as the director of source to pay for nine years, alleges that he was forced out when Twitter required him to agree to new, unspecified pay and conditions within a very short deadline, communicated by an email from Musk titled "A Fork in the Road" on November 16, 2022. When Rooney failed to click the required "Yes" button, Twitter considered this as his resignation. Rooney denies this and is contesting it as an unfair dismissal, seeking compensation amounting to over €550,000.
Twitter, however, asserts that Rooney was not dismissed but decided to leave by not accepting the new terms. The company also disputes Rooney’s claims about restricted stock units being part of his remuneration and argues that his estimated losses are exaggerated. Twitter International Unlimited, now known as X, is appealing awards totalling €550,131 made to Gary Rooney by the Workplace Relations Commission.
The email in question required employees to click "yes" in a link, and those who did not would be deemed to have resigned. The email from Musk indicated that exceptional performance would be required to pass and that working long hours at high intensity would be necessary to build a new Twitter. The company followed up with an FAQ document the following morning, assuring employees the email was genuine.
Rooney, a financial manager and director with global responsibilities, is claiming €689,406 in losses due to his departure from Twitter. He disputes that he decided to leave and refuses to sign up to unspecified new work practices. Ms Smith, representing X, describes Rooney's estimated losses as "wildly inaccurate".
The extremely limited time given to Rooney to decide on his future is disputed by Rooney. He did not consider his situation as an "enhanced opportunity" to resign. Twitter's position is that Rooney had communicated his intention to leave and was not forced out.
The dispute comes amidst a period of uncertainty and downsizing at Twitter, with rumors of massive layoffs and about 50% of Twitter’s global staff being made redundant within two weeks. Decisions were reportedly made by a small group of people from Musk’s other companies, such as Tesla and SpaceX.
The case is currently being adjudicated in the Labour Court in Ireland. The outcome will likely set a precedent for similar cases in the tech industry.
- In the tech industry, the ongoing case between Gary Rooney, a former financial manager at Twitter, and the company, now known as X, over Rooney's departure from Twitter's Dublin office, has raised questions about the impact of business decisions made in technology companies, especially in terms of employee compensation and work practices.
- The general news of potential mass layoffs at Twitter, with rumors of about 50% of global staff being made redundant within two weeks, has added to the concerns about the stability and fairness of employment in the technology sector, and the case between Gary Rooney and Twitter might serve as a guiding point in future business and technology disputes.
