Should people get fired for what they say when they're not at work?

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   LoliHeyposted 7 years ago

   Should people get fired for what they say when they're not at work?
   
   A Black Lives Matter activist committed suicide.  Some cop tweeted "I love a happy ending," referring to the death as a good thing.  He did it off duty.  Now, that was a horrendous thing to say, but he was fired for it!  I have read that others have been fired for saying things that are not even racist or vulgar.  People have gathered together to try and get them fired, like the special ed teacher who was tweeting about cell phones and some guy interpreted it as a racial slur.  Don't we have freedom of speech in the USA?

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2. 76

   lovemychrisposted 7 years ago

   No we don't have freedom of speech. Bullies decide who gets to speak. And this guy is a cop. That means he has power over other people
   If he is happy about the death of a black man, how do you suppose he uses his power over them? I certainly would not want him anywhere near my grandson with a gun.
   If you want power, you must be able to use it in a fair and just manner. Obviously, this guy has problems with the public he holds sway over.
   To copy Trump, Get him out of here!
   Out!Out!

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      LoliHeyposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      So you automatically assume that the cop is not a safe person because he has an opinion?  FYI, the cop was black!  Are you for thought control?

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      lovemychrisposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Nope, im for safe policing. If this guy is happy someone killed himself, he needs to find another job. Just like if a teacher said these snotty nosed brats.. get him Out! Out!

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      SonOfSkyrim201posted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Well maybe they are snotty nosed brats. There's nothing wrong with telling the truth.

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      lovemychrisposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      If they think they are snotty nosed brats, they need to find another job! If I hate people, I don't get a job in customer service, do i? People can sense if you don't like them.
      Don't be in publuc service job. Or if do, work behind scenes.

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3. 77

   Annsaloposted 7 years ago

   
   
   It depends on what type of job they have. Anyone with a type of career choice that is considered a public servant or responsible for teaching children should be held accountable for how they act on and off the job. If a teacher were running around saying she supported the black panthers or the KKK I would expect that teacher to be fired because she obviously lacks the respect that I would want around my children.
   Freedom of speech means you can't be arrested for saying something it does not in any way protect people from having consequences for their actions.
   Personally, I would hope any police officer without the common sense to say something as awful as that in private, would be fired.

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      lovemychrisposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      exactly :-)

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      lisavollrathposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, this. Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequences. People in public positions should learn to keep their opinions to themselves, and not blast them out for the whole world to read, if they want to keep their jobs.

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   Link10103posted 7 years ago

   I'm totally fine with a cop, whose duty it is to protect and serve the people, being happy someone offed themselves and saying so in a public venue...that means I know who to avoid.
   
   If you say something that goes against the very core of whatever job you have, then I wouldn't be all that surprised if you're fired for it. You make an ass of yourself and disgrace whoever you're working for, which would probably result in loss of business and in turn income. That's a no no...
   
   Imagine a day care worker saying she absolutely hates children, or a chef saying he doesn't like hygiene. You're comfortable with such people providing a service to you?

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      LoliHeyposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      As long as it doesn't interfere with how they do their jobs, I don't care.  Who cares if the daycare lady hates children as long as she puts on a happy face and dances like she does?

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      Link10103posted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Fair enough I guess. When that same lady snaps and decides to beat up your kids just don't be all that surprised.

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   Michaela Osieckiposted 7 years ago

   For many employees (especially if you are a public servant or work for a government agency) you represent that agency whether you are 'on the clock' or not. What you say and do even in your own time reflects on your employer and if you're an unsavory individual who gets off on news about people killing themselves, then your employer has a right to terminate you to say "Hey, we are not in line with this person's frame of thinking and we don't want it representing our agency."
   
   Freedom of speech, in legal terms, means the government can't jail or kill you for what you say. That's the extent of it, literally. Freedom of speech does NOT protect you from the consequences of what you say to/about others and does NOT protect you from reactions to it.

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      LoliHeyposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      The guy should have been talked to, or written up for it. Or some kind of lesser punishment.  Not fired.

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   FatFreddysCatposted 7 years ago

   Invoking "Freedom of Speech" does not mean automatic protection from the consequences of said speech (or the consequences of being a dumb ass). 
   Thankfully social media has made it easier to see who the dumb asses are.

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   tamarawilhiteposted 7 years ago

   We're seeing people fired not just for leaking company secrets or bad-mouthing the company but "you have politically incorrect opinions, you're gone", and that is wrong.
   For example, the black firefighter I think in Georgia who also worked as a minister getting fired for publishing a religious book repeating evangelical Christian views on homosexuality as part of the text.

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      lovemychrisposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      In other words, homosexuality is a dirty sin. That cannot be allowed in a public servant! Why don't evangelicals get it? Church is for religious views. You pay zero taxes because you're supposed to keep religious judgements out of public business.

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      SonOfSkyrim201posted 7 years agoin reply to this

      You mean a public servant is not allowed to be religious?

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      tamarawilhiteposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      When other people can discuss politics and religion at work from the left side, then the right side must be allowed, as well, whether or not it is motivated by faith or politics.

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      Link10103posted 7 years agoin reply to this

      There's a rather large difference between discussing politics/religion and advocating for stances that violate common decency if not actual human rights...

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      SonOfSkyrim201posted 7 years agoin reply to this

      What "stances that violate common decency" are you talking about?

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   SonOfSkyrim201posted 7 years ago

   I don't think they should be fired. I think there should definitely be consequences but firing is a little bit extreme. As long as it's not affecting their work it's fine.

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