Like breaking up via text message and telling your spouse you want a divorce in an e-mail, here’s a crummy use of technology that we should hope doesn’t catch on.
Uncle Bubba’s Seafood & Oyster House, a restaurant owned by Paula Deen and her younger brother, Earl W. “Bubba” Hiers Jr., told all of its employees that the place was going out of business on its Facebook page, and that was all. The message:
“Since its opening in 2004, Uncle Bubba’s Oyster House has been a destination for residents and tourists in Savannah, offering the region’s freshest seafood and oysters. However, the restaurant’s owner and operator, Bubba Heirs, has made the decision to close the restaurant in order to explore development options for the waterfront property on which the restaurant is located. At this point, no specific plans have been announced and a range of uses are under consideration in order realize the highest and best use for the property.The closing is effective today, Thursday, April 3, 2014. Employees will be provided with severance based on position and tenure with the restaurant. All effort will be made to find employees comparable employment with other Savannah restaurant organizations.”
Yechh.
Cruel, rude, impersonal, cowardly. Also callous, lazy and inefficient: how many employees were told by third parties about the announcement?
Well, at least Paula’s not a racist. I wonder if the Food Network fired Paula via Facebook? I’m pretty sure it didn’t.
_____________________
Pointer: Evil HR Lady
Facts: CBS
Ethics Alarms 
This sounds like something out of Dilbert. Or perhaps *A Christmas Carol*. Too bad Uncle Bubba and Paula Deen won’t have to see the results of their decision to close the restaurant and see how the former employees will fare afterwards.
1 year out) We are exploring the possibility of changing the business here.
6 months out) We’ve decided that this venture is not as successful as other options and will be closing in 6 months. I know many of you will immediately begin searching for new employment. For those who stay with us until the end, we will offer bonuses at closing and preferential hiring for any future establishment we create here.
Heads up is so simple.
One of my bosses in the army always said “Bad news gets worse with age. The sooner you tell me something bad is happening, the sooner I can help alleviate the situation and possibly solve it before any serious repercussions occur. Tell me when it’s too late, then I’ll be pissed”
Notification of bad news works both ways.