Fired Employee From Top Company Goes on Hunger Strike Over Wrongful Dismissal

By Tabitha Makumi,

“You are fired….” Not words you will want to hear on a Friday Morning or any day for that matter. But it happens. If you are lucky, you probably read the signs and see it coming. Worst case scenario, you don’t see the axe falling on you.

Most people accept their fate and walk away. They get a new job, start their own ventures and life goes on. Then there are those who decide to take another route. A route most people wish they could take but can’t afford to. Sue.

Then there is Kivin Varghese who has been trending worldwide for taking a stand against one of the largest corporations. He is a former Amazon employee who decided to sue and most recently, go on a hunger strike.

While Amazon claims he was let go because of under-performance, he insists he was unlawfully terminated when he raised an internal complaint about how Amazon mistreats its employees.

And you guessed right, low salary is one of his grievances.

“I’ve heard from so many by email and calls from across the country,” Mr Varghese is quoted by Business Insider.

He adds that, “The stories that they (other employees) tell me are just awful, of the way that they’re treated. Even though I have an issue with how Amazon treated me, this has become much bigger than just my issue.”

Assume Mr Varghese place, would you expose your former employer by airing his dirty linen in public or would you walk away silently angry like most people do?

“What’s the point of  suing and going on a hunger strike anyway,” argues Peter Munyau who reveals of how he lost his accounting job six months ago.

“There was nothing to it other than office politics. I was a top performer who had worked for the company for 5 years but when the employer decides he is done with you, there’s nothing much you can do.”

Does his former employer have some skeletons in the closet which he would like Kenyans to know about?

“If you had asked me that question two months ago while I was still jobless, I am sure I would have filled an A4 paper. At the top of my head, all I can say is that a lot of office politics have ruined a lot of careers in that company,” he shares.

Melody Ochieng a Sales Representative with one of the largest online retail companies in the country is of the opinion that if you can afford to take your grievances to court, the better.

She however adds that, “Speaking ill or exposing your former employer may not work in your favour since a lot of people may think you are a sole ex employee who just wants to get back at the company for the dismissal.

Talk to us, what’s your final say on this ‘getting back at your former employer’ issue?

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