Brian L. Roberts, CEO
Comcast Corporation
1500 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Dear Mr. Roberts:
I read the story today of a cable technician whom you recently fired for falling asleep on a Comcast customer’s sofa. I am writing to request that you offer him his job back. I have read several stories over the past few months about people losing their jobs over the content of their blogs or even having topless photos of themselves online, but this is the first time I have heard of someone being fired after starring in a YouTube clip. Granted, it was not the film itself that got him fired but what the film recorded.
The news report I saw mentioned that your company apologized to the customer for having to host your employee. There was no mention of an apology to the employee for having to sit on hold for so long while he was simply calling in to his own employer. In fact he lost his job for his efforts. If a worker fell into a doze on my sofa under similar circumstances, i would probably just put a blanket over him. If I were to be annoyed at anyone it would be whoever put him on hold.
When I am thinking of doing business with a company, two of the largest factors I consider are recommendations from friends and how the employees are treated. Those whom I’ve spoken with have had a good deal of grief from Comcast and have expressed dismay that your company seems to be the only game in town in many areas (is that not a monopoly?). In my efforts to find more information about your sofa sleeper, I came across a bevy of links to stories about your employees being fired for attempting to unionize. I do not claim to know all sides of these stories, but from what I have seen, Comcast has a ways to go with employee relations.
Truly,
Liz Mann
