More Examples of posting on Facebook and getting fired

[RNIBCLC]

Granted this employee is not a nurse but it still demonstrates hospitals firing employes for comments that they post on social media.

Facebook post about Ferguson leads to firing

[toomuchbaloney]

WARNING:

Devils advocate post!

From reading this board, it seems the general consensus of the previous posters is that although American law states humans have freedom of speech, they are not protected from the consequences of what their speech entails for them. If this is the line of thinking, not to go down a slippery slope, then wouldn't those of you who believe this, also believe that the protestors, who are expressing their opinion and using their constitutional right of freedom of speech, have to accept that the consequences of them doing this may result in police ending their protest, peaceful or not; just as the employee who used her freedom of speech was fired.

Both situations used freedom of speech and in both situations, serious consequences were handed to them. Why is one more wrong than the other if they are both the same in nature?

I am not saying the previous posters believe that the police trying to end the protests is more wrong or that they think it is right, I just think it's hypocritical if you DO think one is more wrong than the other or think one is right and one is wrong.

Heck, in some communities you could get hurt or killed simply by speaking your mind to the police.

[Eru Ilúvatar]

There is a difference between freedom of speech and disturbance of public order caused by the manifestations. While i support the freedom that the citizens of Ferguson have to organize and protest ( which I think its protected by the constitution, but not sure 100%) , I do not approve of the chaos and looting that occurred in the beginning. If I were a citizen that was not part of the protest i wouldn't want protestors causing chaos or damage to my city, so I would want the police to protect me and other fellow citizens from this "freedom" that others are exercising.

[Eru Ilúvatar]

I am surprised by how people react to the way the police was dispersing a violent protest. I am pretty sure that many have never seen with their eyes what a real crackdown on a manifestation looks like. ( Lived and experienced crackdown from a dictatorship and that even looks pale in comparison what many Communist countries do to their protestors, think machine gun bullets raining everywhere) We live in a free country and our constitution protects us from the abuse of power from order institutions (Police, Military), but we cant let the country or a city fall in chaos because we don't want to control or use a little bit of push when dealing with violent protestors. Just remember that the Civil Rights movement obtained victory through peaceful force ,and not using the violent option (Black Phanters).

[macawake, MSN]

Understandable, but I don't represent a company if I'm not on the clock.

I absolutely agree that we don't represent our company when we're off-duty, and that we have the right to do and say what we wish (within the law) in our own time. I think the problem is that what we say or do publically can still negatively affect our employer if the public associates our actions or statements with our employer.

It concerns the public's perception and trust. I think you need to actually keep your private life separate from your work. Posting private, sensitive, or potentially inflammatory information or statements on Facebook or other social media is simply unwise. Chances are that you'll be recognized, and some folks are even naive enough to actually name their place of employment. Not the best of ideas.

I've made up some ridiculous social media quotes and assigned each to two different "persons". Which of the two in every pair can potentially cause most damage? Some jobs are in my opinion just more sensitive when it comes to how the public perceives them. Healthcare is one of those jobs.

In my opinion short people are genetically predisposed to committing crimes. In twenty years of doing this job, I have yet to meet a shorty who wasn't guilty of something or other.

The Honorable Justice Gavel X Slammer, Superior Court of Injustice County or

Carpenter Amber Dade-Wood

No woman wearing lots of makeup and a short skirt should be surprised if she receives unwanted attention. If you don't wish to be assaulted cover your body and use only light makeup. If you don't it's pretty obvious what signals your sending.

Sheriff's Deputy Robbert Freeze or

Sous chef Yumyum Canapé

I never go the extra mile for poor people. They are poor simply because they're lazy and don't work hard enough. They just leech on the middle class, I see no reason to take any risks at all for their sake. All of us at work feel this way.

Fire Fighter Red Skye or

Librarian Dusty Covers

This hygiene thing is soooo overrated. I mean seriously, am I supposed to wash and gel my hands constantly?! Helloooo!!! I'm not going to ruin my skin like that, I suffer from soap allergy. And water too, I think. I mean, come on! It's not like I blow my nose in my hands! (Well, not often anyway). What's the risk of spreading some little bug to someone anyway? It's probably no more than one in five. Or perhaps it's one in three. I dunno. Whatever. There's always antibiotics, I mean they work on most bacteria. Sort of.

Registered Nurse P. Foley, Transplant Unit, Fingers Crossed University Hospital. or

Violin virtuoso Muew Ling Khat, performing at the Grand Concert Hall of Perpetual Tinnitus.

I'm a strongly support of freedom of speech, but as others have said, there may still be consequences.

[ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP]

To the people who are defending her first amendment rights, she may have the right to post ignorant crap on FB, but the employer has the right to fire her dumb butt. I'm glad they did.

[SDALPN]

I'm sure each person who says she should have been fired has said something stupid before as well. People are entitled to their opinions no matter how wrong or ignorant. Now if they cause harm to others, that's a different story. Not everyone is going to have beliefs that line up with their employers beliefs. We are hired to do a job, not to believe a certain way. Firing that person was to set an example and create fear.

[Emergent, RN]

Interesting. I wonder what opinions the company does tolerate? It must have been the graphic nature the status statement. Hopefully they can tolerate a lively discourse about current events.

This is a good reminder to keep our Facebook statements civil and friendly, corporate America is watching. I like having a well paid job, personally. It's not worth it to run off my mouth like an idiot.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

I don't disagree with a person getting fired for posting something like this on her "private" FaceBook page, one where she has identified her employer. Freedom of speech has its consequences, even though our constitution prohibits the government from hauling someone off and shooting them for posting controversial opinions.

However, I take exception to the idea that nurses who are off the clock are supposed to be any kinder and more compassionate than the general public. Nurses are people. We ARE the general public. We're just as entitled to our cranky, racist comments (and to be fired for them) as the postal service employee, mechanic or CEO down the street.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

The comment was inappropriate. But it had nothing to do with her job or place of work. I'm sure many will disagree with me. But, these companies shouldn't have the power to own us off the clock. If it was said off the clock, she should have the right to free speech. She should have the right to her beliefs, even if we disagree with them. Our personal business and beliefs shouldn't have an effect on our jobs. As long as the job is done right and the employee is reliable, the rest shouldn't matter.

Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequences; it means that one of those consequences isn't going to be the government hauling you off and shooting you.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

if you insult me personally " freedom of speech" will not save you from getting a slap across your face.

And we don't have the right to go around assaulting folks who insult us.

[OhioCCRN, MSN, NP]

Hi there... yes you! the one who completely MISSED the point!

There is a difference between having tatoo's/being an atheist and all those lovely examples you gave, and someone talking about a whole RACE saying they should be mowed down.... it stops being about where you work and freedom of speech and it boils down to someone being truly a terrible person!

[uRNmyway, ASN, RN]

Hi there... yes you! the one who completely MISSED the point!

There is a difference between having tatoo's/being an atheist and all those lovely examples you gave, and someone talking about a whole RACE saying they should be mowed down.... it stops being about where you work and freedom of speech and it boils down to someone being truly a terrible person!

Well........from what I read, it doesn't seem she was talking about a whole race of people getting mowed down, but those who were rioting and being violent in the streets. Or at least that's what I gathered. So, again, the way I read it would imply she thinks everyone who is rioting ought to be shot, regardless of color. It just happens that most of those rioting are AA, due to racial tensions in that area.

That being said, I agree with other posters. If you post something inflammatory and controversial online while being easy to identify, don't be surprised if you lose your job. Or worst.