Depends on the details. For a lower level position I might give a written warning, on the provision they take down the offending post(s). But since she’s named a client, that could harm business relations. So in that instance the severity of the misdeed is greater.

I’m sure their performance would be taken into account too. If someone is generally a high performing individual who had this one incident then a more lenient outcome might be expected. But if the company are already unhappy with the employee’s performance then this might just be used as an excuse to terminate their employment.

How would you feel if you were paying them and they were slagging off you?

Did you ever consider listening to the reasons they were slagging you off? Was it true, did you make changes

They should come to me with their issues, not social media. If a mutually acceptable accommodation can't be reached, it's time to part ways. After that, then they can slag me off online all they want, short of slander.

> They should come to me with their issues, not social media.

So many companies say this to just fire people that bring feedback. Whistleblowers are needed for a reason.

This concept that companies are always right is alien to me. I have only heard it from management, and only towards subordinates because management are the first ones to badly complain about their own salaries and jobs.

Whistleblowing is something different.

> This concept that companies are always right is alien to me.

I wasn't saying that they were. I just said I don't care to pay people that say hateful things about me. I seriously doubt you or anyone else would, either. Suppose you hired a maid, who then posted online about all your unattractive habits?

I answered that question. In short, “it’s nuanced”.

There needs to be a line drawn somewhere and the company suspending that individual while that review her case to see which side of the line she falls seems like an entirely reasonable reaction.

Or you could treat them like humans and they wouldn’t be complaining about being poorly treated while you’re paying them?

Cratchit, you'll want the whole day off tomorrow, I suppose.