This comes from Just My Type, a very interesting book about fonts (my son’s a graphic designer, so I read books about fonts):
In 2007, a New Zealand accountant, Vicky Walker, sent an e-mail to her co-workers in boldfaced black and red, prefaced with this line in blue caps: TO ENSURE YOUR STAFF CLAIM IS PROCESSED AND PAID, PLEASE DO FOLLOW THE ENCLOSED CHECKLIST.
She’d wanted to get people’s attention, and she did: unfortunately, her all-caps heading was perceived as hostile, causing “disharmony in the workplace,” and she was fired — though two years later she successfully sued for wrongful termination and received $17,000 (U.S. $14,000, or thereabouts)
This article, and all articles on this site, are
© 2012 by Bill Bickel unless otherwise noted.
I guess management thought they had the UPPER hand, only to find they had no CASE.
CAPS off to you!
I can’t tell you how happy I am that my local library has that book.
IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN, SHE SHOULD HIRE THE POLITE ALL-CAPS GUY TO BE HER LAWYER.
BTW, THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME POST, I HOPE YOU ALL FOUND THIS AMUSING. HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!
If she had used comic sans font, would she have lost her case?
Either that’s the worlds wimpiest workplace, or they wanted to get rid of her for some other reason that wasn’t allowed.
My thoughts exactly. But if the second is true, doesn’t it validate the first?
GROG NO UNDERSTAND WHY SHE FIRED
GROG THINK ALL CAPS LOOK GOOD
She said “Please”.