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If I was going to post some ridiculous **** on social media, I surely wouldn't use my real name. That's just asking for trouble.
As for the lady being fired? I guess her employer can probably fire her for any reason.
And yet there are reasons that her employer can't fire her for. A leas not openly. Like race, gender, age, ethnicity, nationality, or sexual orientation.
I think this will eventually be legislated. One way or another.
It's not the grown adults doing this stuff I worry about. It's the 18-21 college demographic who just want to party and have a good time and sometimes they do stupid things or things in poor taste. But 5 years ago that didn't result in your name becoming a Google hit and linking you to a post or video for the rest of your life.
Think of the kid who had that YouTube video freaking out about Mac n cheese, yes he's not a good person who acted horribly.
But there is a part of me that feels bad that some of these kids have ruined their chances for the future in ways an 18 yr old can't fully grasp.
I understand that to a large degree. But at the same time, you cannot be an effective manager if you are trashing your subordinates in public. You cannot be an effective co-worker if you are making fun of your co-workers in public. You hurt people the you mock and insult, and you have lost the trust of anyone else who finds out about it.
In my case, I could have not said a thing and just fired the woman when things went bad at work. And they would have. Soon.
You don't get to be mean and work for me. You can have grouchy days, but not outright mean or carry tales that hurt others.
I don't disagree...entirely. In terms of the OP, generally speaking you ought to have freedom of speech. But, as with most things, there are limits. For example, a teacher "trashing" a burger joint seems like fair game. A teacher "trashing" colleagues or students or families...well, that's directly related to employment.
I'd say the CEO position is different since he actually does single handheldy represent the company. This goes along with people in high visibility / spokesperson positions.
I still think it's a dangerous mixing of private life versus public life. I disagree totally with the executive's position, but I defend his right to act as he wishes in his private life.
I still think it's a dangerous mixing of private life versus public life. I disagree totally with the executive's position, but I defend his right to act as he wishes in his private life.
A CEO of a company is a public figure. He's the face of that company, he runs it and defines its strategy, and his actions have far more impact on that company's public image and bottom line than actions of a rank and file employee or even a manager. I'd say if you're in a top executive position, you have certain obligations that your employees don't have. Put it this way - I think it would be wrong for a religiously affiliated health organization like say a Catholic hospital to fire a nurse for having an abortion, but I don't see a problem for them asking a female CEO to step down for same.
Or to make another example - if I find out that an individual employee of a large company is a KKK member, I won't hold it against the company. But if it's the company CEO, this is different. He is running the company, he sets the rules, he hires people, his views and actions directly reflect upon that company.
In general, I don't think a person should be fired for what they say on social media, although -- like most things in life -- there are limits.
What amazes me about this thread is that so many people who go bonkers if government were to try to censor people, don't care a whit if big business tries to censor them. Hmmmmmmmmm.
Censoring by the government upsets people, so we complain about that.
Opinions or actions made public by an employee can upset customers or fellow employees. If an individual cannot resist the lure of making their activities and thoughts known, and it upsets people they work with or for, there could be consequences. If something they post raises red flags or puts them or the company they work for in a poor light, there could be consequences.
We aren't trying to censor anyone - we're expecting common sense. Social media users should exhibit that common sense by either censoring themselves or making their posts private.
Censoring by the government upsets people, so we complain about that.
Opinions or actions made public by an employee can upset customers or fellow employees. If an individual cannot resist the lure of making their activities and thoughts known, and it upsets people they work with or for, there could be consequences. If something they post raises red flags or puts them or the company they work for in a poor light, there could be consequences.
We aren't trying to censor anyone - we're expecting common sense. Social media users should exhibit that common sense by either censoring themselves or making their posts private.
There's a difference between making a statement at work that upsets fellow employees or customers, making a statement in private account that discusses fellow employees or customers, or making a statement in private account about something that has nothing to do with job.
In this third case, the employer should not be able to retaliate.
If I make a statement on my private Facebook account that I see the Affirmative Action in colleges as unfair, should my employer be able to fire me for this because it may upset other employees or customers ?
What if I vote Republican and this upsets employees or customers who vote Democrat ?
How is the corporate censorship of private lives of their employees any better than Goverment suppression of free speech ?
Censoring by the government upsets people, so we complain about that.
Opinions or actions made public by an employee can upset customers or fellow employees. If an individual cannot resist the lure of making their activities and thoughts known, and it upsets people they work with or for, there could be consequences. If something they post raises red flags or puts them or the company they work for in a poor light, there could be consequences.
We aren't trying to censor anyone - we're expecting common sense. Social media users should exhibit that common sense by either censoring themselves or making their posts private.
I understand what you're saying, but I know your general slant on things here on C-D (as you probably know mine). So if I'm your boss, I should be able to fire you?
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