A Whirlwind Day for @BadlyDrawnRoy

I read about this story this morning, and was warmed to my cockles so thought I would share it with you.

Profile Pic taken from @BadlyDrawnRoy

Meet @BadlyDrawnRoy (Roy Ward) – based in Leeds and working in Sales, he met with his line manager yesterday to discuss a sensitive issue which was affecting his work. He told his manager that he had depression (in his words “opened up”) to his boss and was told that she “might have to fire” him.

He did indeed get the big heave-ho later that day, and posted his dismissal letter on Twitter. That’s when it all blew up for Roy – with word of his plight spreading throughout Twitter and beyond as the day went on. (His Twitter account shows just under 800 followers on Google’s cached version, at the moment he has just under 3,500.)

Roy’s plight sparked a phenomenal response – with offers of help and support coming from far and wide via Twitter and through the media. The Telegraph has reported that spinmaster general Alastair Campbell has offered his advice, as well as Tory MP Louise Mensch.

As of this morning, Roy seemed overwhelmed by the support he has received and the situation itself, asking this morning for legal advice as the situation had “escalated somewhat” since yesterday.

The Twitter phenomenon wasn’t planned, it seems that the wave of sympathy for Roy’s situation resonated with lots of us out there. Having been medically advised of his condition, he chose to tell his employer and explain his situation. It seems that Roy was dropped like a hot pratai, with his employer using Roy’s own admission that he had been unable to “pick up the phone and make calls lately” as a reason for dismissing him.

Without meaning to be flippant, this situation makes us think about the tragic story which hit Irish papers some months back about Kate Fitzgerald – who took her own life following horrendous misunderstanding of her condition (again, depression) at the hands of her employers. That story has stayed with me personally, probably even haunting me in a way. Roy got some support and awareness (and then some) via his friends and following on Twitter which is right and true. Not everyone will have the courage to speak out in these situations, so when they do, that support is key.

It cannot be acceptable for anyone to be discriminated against on the basis of a medical condition – whether that’s a broken leg, a bad back or a serious condition like depression. Twitter users standing up for Roy and helping him make his plight known to a much wider audience is amazing. This issue needs to be treated with the respect it deserves, and Twitter helped make that happen.

Yay to Twitter’ers everywhere and best of luck to @BadlyDrawnRoy in his endeavours!