Twitter, recently rebranded as X, has been directed to pay compensation to a former employee following an unfair dismissal ruling. The company must pay 550,000 euros (approximately ₹5 crore) to Gary Rooney, who was terminated in December 2022 after Elon Musk acquired the platform.
Gary Rooney, who had been with Twitter’s Ireland branch since September 2013, received this compensation from Ireland’s Workplace Relations Commission on Tuesday. This is the highest amount ever awarded by the agency.
The Cause of Dismissal
In November 2022, shortly after Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter, Musk issued a company-wide email mandating that employees either agree to “long hours at high intensity” or accept “three months of severance pay.” Rooney, along with other employees, was given a single day to respond by clicking “yes” to accept these new terms set by Musk, who was then CEO.
Musk’s email read: “If you are sure that you want to be part of the new Twitter, please click yes on the link below.” The email also stated that those who did not agree would receive three months of severance.
X contended that Rooney had resigned voluntarily by not accepting Musk’s terms.
The Workplace Relations Commission rejected this defense. Barry Kenny, the complainant’s solicitor, remarked, “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,” as reported by Bloomberg.
Elon Musk acquired Twitter in October 2022 for $44 billion. Following the acquisition, he laid off nearly half of the company’s employees and imposed stringent conditions on the remaining staff.