Andrew Wildes, Gleaner Writer

Eager to know just how members of the public perceive these dismal notices, The Gleaner asked a few people to share the initial thoughts that come to mind when they see such ads.

What is the public supposed to think? Printed in the nation's newspapers almost every day are advertisements from different companies with a passport-size picture, the word 'NOTICE', and a sentence like this: "The Letter A is no longer employed to the Alphabet Company and is NOT AUTHORISED to transact business on our behalf."

Immediately, questions ring out! What did A do? Why is he no longer working with the Alphabet Company? Why did the Alphabet Company go to such great lengths?

Eager to know just how members of the public perceive these dismal notices, The Gleaner asked a few people to share the initial thoughts that come to mind when they see such ads.

"Them steal something from the company!" was the the most common answer coming from different corners.

"Nine out of 10 times they have done something that was against company policy or company regulations," said Howard James.

"They were fired," was the quick response of Alexander James. "Whatever they did, the company cannot run the risk of being associated with them," he said.

Robyn-Kay Deleon, trading assistant at the Jamaica Stock Exchange, had similar views.

"They did something against policy, something like fraud or something (else). That's the first thing that comes to mind, fraud," she said.

Overwhelming public opinion, it would seem, is that A is a 'dirty old criminal,' but according to Anmarie Jordan, legal officer at The Gleaner Company, that may not be the case at all.

Jordan explained that when companies publish dismissal notices, it is generally due to company policy, not necessarily wrongdoing on the part of employees.

She further noted that employers publish dismissal notices when an employee is in a position of trust, and where it is wise to advise the public, and probably the employee that they no longer have the power they once enjoyed.

So, is it fair for companies to publish these notices in light of the negative public perception?