U R Fired

Welsh Woman Fired Via Text Message

LONDON — Katy Tanner's cell phone beeped with a startling message — you're fired.
The 21-year-old had a migraine headache and took a sick day last week from her job at the Cardiff, Wales, outpost of Blue Banana, a British chain of body-piercing studios, she said Monday.

She turned on her cell phone the next day to discover she'd been terminated from her sales position.

"We've reviewed your sales figures and they're not really up to the level we need," shop manager Alex Barlett wrote in the message. "As a result, we will not require your services any more. Thank you for your time with us."

Ian Bisbie, a Blue Banana director, said the company does not usually fire employees by text message, but had no other alternative after phoning Tanner five or six times and calling her boyfriend.