Joe Gordon, 37, had worked at the Princes Street branch of Waterstone's for 11 years before being suspended just before Christmas. He was told that it was because of his satirical blog, entitled The Woolamaloo Gazette. An inquiry led to a disciplinary hearing and he was sacked for gross misconduct.
Gordon argues: "Anyone who has been a regular reader of the Gazette will know that I do occasionally mention my work life, although it accounts for a fraction of my written output."
He acknowledges that he coined the term "Bastardstone's" and referred to a character called "Evil Boss" whom he compares to Dilbert's Pointy-Haired Boss.
But he adds in his defence:
"I had not set out to deliberately ruin the company's image. In fact I don't think I have even inadvertently; if I had wished to do that then I would have been running less satirical and far more biting comments on a rather more regular basis, rather than commenting from time to time about a bad day at work, a grumpy manager or the like. You'd think I had run a sustained propaganda campaign of subversion."
Richard Morgan, a science fiction author, supported Gordon in a letter to Waterstone's. He compared the sacking with "disciplinary action based on private conversation overheard in a pub" and said it raises "disturbing issues of freedom of speech".
Emma Grossmith, an employment specialist with Pinsent Masons, the law firm behind OUT-LAW.COM, said:
"Companies need to be careful if they're upset by on-line criticism. Even if the blogger has breached a recognised company policy or a term in his contract of employment, such as confidentiality, employers would need to be able to show that his behaviour amounted to gross misconduct to justify summary dismissal. They would also have to follow a fair procedure before dismissal. Over-reaction could lead to unfair dismissal claims."