#TwitterRevolt: “This is a mass execution of loyal staff” – Angry staff hijack company’s Twitter account [DETAILS]

  • Anonymous user described meeting as a ‘mass execution of loyal staff’
  • Claimed they had been unable to ‘tell the truth’ while still under contract
  • Twitter user said marketing manager was trying to close the account
  • Added that employees had ‘wanted to make HMV great again’

 

HMV workers staged a Twitter revolt today after the retailer announced it was axing almost 200 jobs.

Staff tweeted that it was a ‘mass execution’ of ‘loyal employees who love the brand’, adding that they had been unable to ‘tell the truth’ while under contract.

The updates from the official @HMVtweets account began this afternoon, apparently during an HR meeting in which 60 members of staff were being fired.

An anonymous Twitter user, posting under the hashtag #hmvXFactorFiring, wrote: ‘We’re tweeting live from HR where we’re all being fired! Exciting!!’

'Execution': The tweets from HMV's official account slammed the firing of 60 employees in one meeting‘Execution’: The tweets from HMV’s official account slammed the firing of 60 employees in one meeting

They added that they would not normally dare to do such a thing but that they saw no other option when the company was being ‘ruined’ and ‘hard-working individuals who wanted to make HMV great again’ were being fired.

The Twitter user also claimed the account had been set up by an intern ‘unpaid, technically illegal’ two years ago.

The tweets were later deleted and replaced with a tweet saying it has been a ‘tough day’ and confirming there had been job losses but ‘not in our stores’.

The British music and video retailer went into administration earlier this month, after years of struggling against competition from online retailers, putting more than 4,120 jobs and 223 stores at risk.

 

 

The tweets apparently threw the PR department into a panic, with the Twitter user adding: ‘Just overheard our Marketing Director (he’s staying, folks) ask “How do I shut down Twitter?”‘

Within minutes the hashtag #hmvXfactorFiring was the top trending topic on the social networking site, as hundreds of users reacted with sympathy to the former staff.

Aidan Dolan tweeted: ‘Well done to the person who had the balls to tweet about the staff being fired £hmvXFactorFiring.’

Lee Beattie retweeted one of the posts from the HMV account and wrote: ‘When corporate Tweeting goes rogue.’

Shortly afterwards, the account was closed.

Final stand: The rebellious tweets went on to say the firm was being 'ruined' so they had no other choiceFinal stand: The rebellious tweets went on to say the firm was being ‘ruined’ so they had no other choice

HMV later deleted all its tweets then added these two tweets later, saying there have been job losses but 'not in our stores'HMV later deleted all its tweets then added these two tweets later, saying there have been job losses but ‘not in our stores’

HMV today insisted that it was hopeful of securing a future for the business as it announced 190 jobs had gone at the firm.

Deloitte, which was appointed as administrators by HMV supermarkets and download sites, said the cuts had been made at the firm’s head office in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, and within its distribution network.

The administrators added that HMV is now seeking a buyer for all or parts of the business, adding that no redundancies had been made across HMV’s retail network and that its stores continued to trade.

Joint administrator Nick Edwards said today: ‘Since our appointment as Administrators over two weeks ago, we have been assessing the financial position of HMV.

‘Following this review, a number of redundancies at the head office and distribution centres have been made.

Cuts: Administrators Deloitte said today that they hoped the brand had a future as a 'restructured business'Cuts: Administrators Deloitte said today that they hoped the brand had a future as a ‘restructured business’

Just looking: Supportive Twitter users praised the courage of the rogue member of staffJust looking: Supportive Twitter users praised the courage of the rogue member of staff

‘Although such decisions are always difficult, it is a necessary step in restructuring the business to enhance the prospects of securing its future as a going concern.

‘We have been very pleased with the level of interest in the business as a going concern, whilst the response from customers has demonstrated the demand to see HMV remain on the high street.

‘Equally, the support received from suppliers has been very positive and has enabled us to continue trading during the administration.

‘As a result of all of these factors, I remain hopeful we will be able to secure a future for a restructured business.’

 

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