Twitter (X) ordered to pay Rs 5 crore compensation to former employee fired for not replying to Elon Musk's mail

Twitter, now rebranded as X, has been ordered to pay €550,000 (approximately ₹5 crore) to former employee Gary Rooney after an unfair dismissal case. According to a report in Fortune, the decision, handed down by Ireland's Workplace Relations Commission, is the largest compensation ever awarded by the agency. Rooney, who had worked at Twitter’s Ireland unit since 2013, was dismissed in December 2022 following Elon Musk's takeover of the social media platform.

What Led to the Dismissal

In November 2022, shortly after acquiring Twitter, Elon Musk issued a company-wide email requiring employees to commit to "long hours at high intensity" or face termination with three months of severance pay. Employees, including Rooney, were given one day to decide by clicking "yes" to accept the new working conditions.

Musk's email stated: "If you are sure that you want to be part of the new Twitter, please click yes on the link below." Those who did not comply would receive three months of severance.

The Dispute

Twitter, now X, argued that Rooney had voluntarily resigned by not clicking "yes" on Musk’s ultimatum. However, the Irish Workplace Relations Commission rejected this argument. The Commission ruled that Rooney's dismissal was unfair, leading to the record compensation award.

Rooney's solicitor, Barry Kenny, emphasized the seriousness of the case, stating, “It is not OK for Mr. Musk, or indeed any large company, to treat employees in such a manner in this country or jurisdiction. The record award reflects the seriousness and the gravity of the case.”

Background

Elon Musk, the Tesla billionaire, acquired Twitter in October 2022 for $44 billion. Following the acquisition, he laid off nearly half of the company’s employees and issued the ultimatum to the remaining staff, which led to Rooney’s dismissal.