He was accused of defaming his former company

Sep 8, 2008 13:26 GMT  ·  By

An autistic Australian working at the Foster's Yatala brewery was fired because of some YouTube videos in which he was "defaming" his workplace. Karl Tilcock, reports Australian IT, has been an employee of the company for over 12 years when he received a written notice regarding his dismissal. The man, whose online nickname is AusDingo, admitted that he had posted on YouTube a few videos in which he made fun of the company and even of his own boss.

 

The brewery claims that representatives sent, time and again, letters in which they asked the man to stop defaming the company, but that he wouldn't listen. Tilcock comes with another story – he says that he has quit posting offensive videos as soon as he got the first letter.

 

The man, who lost his job but who still has to provide for his wife and their two children, also autistic, says that he believes the reason that led to him getting fired was his condition, and not the videos. "I've had to fight a lot more (because of the autism) and take time off to care for my family and the company didn't like it" he told the same source. "I did my job."

 

At the opposite pole, the brewery staff says that the man not only discredited them, but actually filmed some of the compromising videos while at work. "We re-explained the rules to him after the initial warning," a spokeswoman for the company said. "He was making disparaging remarks and defaming the company."

 

Apparently, the authorities are on the former employee's side. Union state secretary Gary Bullock is quoted to have said that the conduct of the company in handling the case of Tilcock has been "un-Australian." Wherever the truth lies, it is obvious for everyone that finding a job is a lot more difficult for someone who’s autistic, so people tend to be on Tilcock's side.