Woolies has fired eight staff for “planking” on the job including several from its Dick Smith electronics chain.
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| Image credit: Facebook Planking Australia. |
The sacking followed managerial tip offs from colleagues and the screening of the daredevil deeds on Facebook.
Those dismissed, include Woolworth owned Dick Smith branch manager and assistant manager from a NSW store, who it was revealed had planked a 7 ft tall shelf, a spokesperson, Clare Buchanan, told Channel News.
The shelf was located on the shop floor and not in the back of house. Two Dick Smith staff were dismissed in total.
However, its not the planking they got the sack for, but rather for “reckless and dangerous behaviour,” she insisted.
Planking, a craze that has taken the world by storm, involves lying down in tight spots and then recording the deed and can be a massive source of amusement. Planking Australia’s Facebook site has almost 150,000 ‘likes’ so far.
However, Woolies were not amused and, defending the sacking on ABC radio this morning, insist the planking was a breach of health and safety rules and endangering other members of staff.
“What clearly started out as a bit of a joke on the internet has gone too far and it’s costing people their jobs and, as we’ve also seen this week, their lives,” Buchanan said.
Another of the sacked Woolworths employees planked on a 2.5 metre-high shelf and two other staff in Victoria were fired for planking on a meat mincer. The sacking took place across three states including Queensland.
However, the craze does shave a murky side. One Brisbane youth fell to his death last Sunday after he attempted to plank a seven ft high building.
