IBM worker fired for chat room addiction

James Pacenza admits that he spent time in chat rooms during work hours, but claims his behaviour is the result of an addiction and that IBM should have offered him counselling instead of firing him

According to Information Week, the former Vietnam veteran worked at the IBM research facility in East Fishkill.

Pacenza claims that while employees with more severe psychological problems, such as drug or alcohol problems get treatment at IBM, he got his pink slips and P45.

Pacenza claimed his use of Internet chat rooms is a form of "self medication" he used to treat post traumatic stress disorder suffered as a result of combat experience in Vietnam.

Big Blue said they didn't fire him because of the chat room problem. It was just that he was also looking at porn and talking dirty on a chat room.

Pacenza never mentioned to his bosses that he was suffering from any illness, IBM claims. More here. µ