Virgin sacks 20 staff members for swapping porn
By IANSFriday, June 4, 2010
MELBOURNE - More than 20 staff, including those at managerial level, of Virgin Blue airline have been sacked for repeatedly using office computers to view and swap pornographic materials.
Staff and managers from Sydney and Brisbane airports have been “terminated” this week for breaching the company’s code of conduct regarding inappropriate internet use, the airline said. The move followed an investigation into 40 staff last month.
“We absolutely do not tolerate any misconduct,” said public affairs manager Danielle Keighery. “They were not face-to-face staff responsible for dealing with customers”.
Keighery said an email had been sent out across the company last Wednesday “reminding staff of their obligations”.
She said all of the 20 staff had been notified of their termination within the past two days, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
Those involved were mainly baggage handlers who used to watch pornography on computers in offices and staff rooms and then swap materials deemed “good”, according to sources close to the airline.
The sources said managers were present at the time and were also involved in viewing and swapping the material. “The movies were hardcore triple-X”.
“There were so many caught on the same shift they (the airline) could not suspend them due to having no staff to replace them,” the sources added.
