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Fired Via Instant Message

Posted by michael on from the new-low dept.

JThaddeus writes "Yahoo! news reports that South Korea's third-largest credit card issuer, KEB Credit Service, fired 161 people--a quarter of its workforce--via mobile phone text messages. Hey, at least they got told, right? Afterall, they could have been like Milton."

38 of 367 comments (clear)

  1. "You've Got Vacation!" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Permanently.

    1. Re:"You've Got Vacation!" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Back when I was a software contractor (where I could and would get fired at the drop of a hat), I used to call it "instant vacation." I also used to ask my boss everyday: "am I fired yet?"

      But now that I'm retired, yeah, that I call "sweet permanent vacation." Heh.

  2. The message was... by dyj · · Score: 3, Funny

    "You've got fired!"

    1. Re:The message was... by WorkEmail · · Score: 5, Funny

      We R Sry, but U R Fired. gtg, TTYL.

      lmao.

    2. Re:The message was... by StuWho · · Score: 5, Funny

      All your wages are belong to us

      --
      "If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments." Earl Wilson
    3. Re:The message was... by NanoGator · · Score: 5, Funny

      Well I don't know about you guys, but I'm filling out an expense report for the $0.10 charge on my phone bill for recieving that message.

      --
      "Derp de derp."
  3. The Milton Solution by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    "...they took ... my ... my Swingline ... and then, they texted me a pink slip ... going to burn the place to the ground ... this is, yes, this is the final straw"

  4. Wouldn't it be cheaper by dysprosia · · Score: 5, Funny

    Wouldn't it be cheaper just to tell these people quickly in person? Considering the cost of a text message in some places...

    1. Re:Wouldn't it be cheaper by Durandal64 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Kind of reminds me of the Simpson's episode where Burns flashed back to when he was a child with his father taking him through an old factory, before there were unions. As the 1920's variant of the teenage pubescent is being dragged off the floor, he says, "One day, we workers will form unions, so we can get the wages and benefits that we deserve! But then we'll go to far, and become corrupt ... and the Japanese will eat us alive."

  5. hmm by Christoff84 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Well at least they saved a tree or two worth of pink slips. Although on Monday there are going to be a few pissed off people that had their phones off all weekend.

  6. GOOD NEWS! by jonfromspace · · Score: 5, Funny

    You Are Fired!

    Sucks to be Corben Dallas!

    --
    I am become Troll, destroyer of threads
  7. Re:U R FIRED by petabyte · · Score: 4, Funny

    *Warn*, *Warn*, *Warn*, *Block*!!

  8. heh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    The message sent was actually "SRY WE DNT ND U NEMRE KTHX BAI THX 4 WRK HRE".

  9. And the employees were left wondering... by PerlPo8 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Where's that middle finger emoticon again?

    --

    --
    "I'm don't know exactly what an AS/400 is, but I'm pretty certain I wouldn't want one up my ass" --Lou

    1. Re:And the employees were left wondering... by Cliffy03 · · Score: 5, Funny

      "There is no emoticon to describe what I am feeling!"

      --
      In Soviet Russia, Nigel makes plans for you!
  10. I can see it now: by Ieshan · · Score: 3, Funny

    u fired! kekekekekekekeke!!11111

  11. McFly -- READ MY FAX! by holt_rpi · · Score: 5, Funny

    And who can forget the immortal words of Iko 'Jitz' Fujitsu: "Read my fax!"

    Well, at least they didn't get it ALL wrong in Back to the Future II... the message was just delivered on cell phones instead of paper.

    Where's my pizza rehydrator and hoverboard, anyway?

  12. teh msg by pokka · · Score: 5, Funny

    hi how r u? u gtg
    u hv 4hr 2 get ur
    stf out of ur dsk
    hv a gr8 day cya

  13. Obligatory by crawdaddy · · Score: 5, Funny

    In A.D. 2004

    KEB was firing

    Worker: What happen?

    Cellphone: Somebody set up us the IM.

    AIM: We get message.

    Worker: What!

    AIM: Main screen turn on.

    Worker: It's you!!

    HR: How are you gentlemen!!

    HR: All your jobs are belong to us!

  14. So... by RoadkillBunny · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...if I don't have a mobile phone, I wouldn't get fired?

    --
    Cheers,
    RoadkillBunny
    1. Re:So... by JoshWurzel · · Score: 3, Funny

      HAHAHAH! And /.-er's called me an asshole for not having a cell phone. Looks like I've got the last laugh!

  15. TheBoss has sent you a message! by AvantLegion · · Score: 3, Funny
    TheBoss: hi a/s/l?
    TheBoss: whoops
    TheBoss: sorry but ur fired
    TheBoss: ill give u good reference tho
    * TheBoss sets status to Sorry *
    TheBoss: :(
    TheBoss: srry ur mad at me gtg byebye
    TheBoss has logged out

  16. Dear Employee by rock_climbing_guy · · Score: 3, Funny

    We are sorry to inform you, but your services are no longer necessary to the company. Effective immediately, upon receipt of this message, your remote access to company resources has be&*#A%rE [NO CARRIER]

    --
    Wh47 d1d j00 541, 31337 15n't t3h r0xor5 ne m0r3???
  17. I guess... by rampant+mac · · Score: 3, Funny
    I guess the next step will be my boss following up on one of my /. posts...

    +5 Informative - You've been canned.

    --
    I like big butts and I cannot lie.
  18. Re:Instant Message != Text Message by t_allardyce · · Score: 4, Funny

    I think in other parts of the world its known as an instant message because it arrives at the other phone instantly, where-as here in the uk, o2 delivers it afew hours later because a 160 byte message is oh so traffic intensive.

    --
    This comment does not represent the views or opinions of the user.
  19. Coming soon to your linux desktop by Mixel · · Score: 4, Funny

    "You have IM!" *ding* SCO has joined the conversation *ding* DeptOfJustice has joined the conversation

  20. Re:Fired OR? by Marvelicious'+Girl · · Score: 5, Funny

    I didn't want it to come to this, but... I'm breaking up with you, K?

    It just wasn't working out; I just couldn't compete with this stupid, ugly green website.

    I want my car back, too.

    Don't bother trying to come crawling back, we're through.

    Like this way of breaking up with you? It's Toni's idea. Savor the sweet, sweet irony.

  21. Happened in the UK too last year by Alan+Cox · · Score: 5, Funny

    Admittedly since the company were "personal injury lawyers" nobody could decide whether to feel outraged over the method used or happy that the people lost their jobs...

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/2949578.stm

    1. Re:Happened in the UK too last year by ozric99 · · Score: 5, Funny
      My favourite quote from that piece:

      Speaking from his 3m mansion in North Rode, Cheshire, he said: "I'm absolutely devastated"

      Why does slashdot not recognise Pound signs? Sigh...

  22. Re:Oh the irony by otis+wildflower · · Score: 4, Funny

    Fired by crappest, most rip-off messaging system known to man with a 160 character limit

    All you need is 6 characters...

    urfyrd

  23. Monday morning: by cs02rm0 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Joe Worker: Hi Boss, good weekend?
    Boss: Err...
    Joe Worker: My work mobile (cell) seems to have died this weekend, any chance of a new one?
    ...

  24. Re:The AC is a Manager by Penguinshit · · Score: 3, Funny


    depends on whether you use tongue or not...

    --

    I have something in common with Stephen Hawking...

  25. Just running an errand... by mac+os+ken · · Score: 5, Funny

    thx 4 teh msg
    i jst at teh
    GUNS n AMMO
    STOR i am stndin
    in lobby now l8tr

    --
    .deviatefromtheabsolute.
  26. Re:Before you lose it... by MurphyZero · · Score: 5, Funny

    Is that why New Yorkers use their middle finger to ring doorbells?

    --
    Our founding fathers removed the guys in charge. Be American. Vote incumbents out.
  27. Re:Instant??? What's instant about an SMS? by void+warranty() · · Score: 3, Funny

    Uhm, you're supposed to send SMS via the GSM net, not type it into your phone, put a stamp on it and send it via snail mail. Faster and cheaper.

  28. Worse ways of getting fired... by identity0 · · Score: 5, Funny

    At least they weren't fired in a Slashdot post. Other humiliating geek ways of being fired:

    Your employer uploads pinkslip.txt to the CVS tree of the free software project you've been spending all your time on.

    Your boss cracks your home machine and leaves the message "J00 ar3 n07 1337. F10R3D!!!!11!1!"

    Boss takes you to a fancy Indian restaurant. When the waiter comes, he says "Yes, we're ready to order - by the way, Bob, Mahel here will be replacing you in two days."

    They FedEx you a cell phone while you work, a la the Matrix. It rings, and when you answer, a mysterious deep voice tells you, "Look at the hall by the elevator. They're coming for you, Neo". You look, and you see a group of HR people coming to fire your sorry ass, being directed towards your cubicle. Being a geek, you immediately re-enact the scene where the agents(HR people) are trying to hunt Neo(you) while he talks to Morpheus(the mysterious stranger).

    You think, "This is it. The thing I have been waiting for all my life - confirmation that I AM the One! Haha, I'm not a loser, suckers!" However all your hopes come crashing to an end when the guy on the phone says "Oh what the hell. You're fired anyway whether they find you or not. I've been leading you on for my own amusement, but now it's gotten boring. Clever hack, eh? btw, you're not The One, you'll never touch Trinity, and you're still just a loser without a job." In desperation you fling yourself out the 10th-floor window to confirm you have super powers or die trying. You die trying. However you prove the hacker wrong on one point when you DO touch Carrie-Anne Moss at the last moment of your life, crushing her to death between you and her motorcycle.

  29. sorry by moondo · · Score: 5, Funny
    well, i must apologize... i never knew this would become such a big thing.


    guys guys guys...

    the boss(mr. kim) was on his lunch break, but he left his cellphone on the desk. i was wondering what could be a practical joke to play on my fellow colleagues and, well, ended sending these you've been fired messages. sorry if i scared the fuckin shit out of you.

    i'll see you on monday at work.

  30. R:"Y'v Gt Vctn!" by H4x0r+Jim+Duggan · · Score: 5, Funny

    but at least you'd get formal(/angry/justified) talks or letters. In South Korea, 161 workers just recieved:

    ur frd. No jb 4u
    n e mor. no $ in
    bnk, cnt get cred,
    cnt mk chex. Thnx,
    sorry, Gd luck!!!!
    -----
    This SMS service
    is provided by KEB
    Credit Service

    --
    Please help publicise swpat.org - the software patents wiki