Comments on Fired for Blogging!

Go to Along the Writing Path - Add a comment - Go to Fired for Blogging!

Again, I agree with both of you.

Interesting, isn't it? I suppose everyone knows that emails sent and received on the job are more or less the property of the employer.

posted by Witchflower on March 8, 2005 at 10:49 AM | link to this | reply

I don't particularly like that these people lost their jobs...

because of blogging however, I think they both showed an extreme lack of common sense and a naivete about the first amendment. Anything you do or say on the web that could negatively affect your employer will be a reasonable cause for dismissal. The first amendment does not give blanket protection for everything you say (unfortunately). If your speech (or pictures) mar your employers concept and reputation it's just as bad as slanering them. And slander is not protected speech.

Just one blogger's opinion

Mike's Goddess

posted by mikes_goddess on March 8, 2005 at 9:34 AM | link to this | reply

Freedom of speech but not on the company time clock and not that would relate to stock price I gues is the message. People put up all kinds of nutty websites. They have to be responsible, just as in real life. Also I don't believe everything I read, and when you can't consider the source take it with a little added salt.

posted by the-loanlady on March 7, 2005 at 10:21 AM | link to this | reply

I have to agree with each one of you, one way or another.

Susbtituting any other activity, book, article, letter to the editor, public speech, etc., for "blog" helps sort it all out. My feeling is posting a photo of yourself, even if pornographic (which the one is question wasn't), should be no problem, but wearing a company uniform is probably inappropriate (there's even an IRS issue here).

At one point where I work we were told not to talk to reporters about a controversial issue here. They could not limit me that way, but had I chosen to talk about it to the press, I understood I would be risking my job. It's only common sense.

As far as libel (written) and slander (oral) charges, the defense against those charges is the truth. If what is written or said is the truth, and not a violation of confidentiality, it would not hold in a lawsuit. Again, the individual is risking their job. I live and work in an "employed at will" state where any employee or employer can terminate a position at any time without a reason being necessary.

Blogging is a newer area, and some people may not have understood the responsibilities involved. I'm also curious if employers are paying someone to surf the net to check for stray blogs that may not please them.

It's all a matter of balancing behavior and common sense.

Interesting comments. Thanks to all of you for reading.

posted by Witchflower on March 7, 2005 at 10:18 AM | link to this | reply

Freedom of Expression Always

...comes with an equal amount of responsibility. (You know the old saw about not yelling "Fire!" in a crowded theater.)

If you have a legitimate beef with your employer then take your complaint to your employer. Why post something that you wouldn't want to discuss with your boss in the first place? As an employer, I sure do want to protect my investment and hard work. And I will not let one of my staff sully the name of my company with libelous rantings on their website (while they work for me.)

You can regard your termination with my firm for your slanderous speech as me exercising my freedom of expression...except, I didn't post your walking papers on the internet the way you bitched about me on the internet. Don't like it? Too bad...The First Amendment protects me.

--D

posted by Dennison..Mann on March 7, 2005 at 10:02 AM | link to this | reply

It would seem unfair (and it probably is) to be fired for something like this, but I always like to err on the side of caution anyway. I always ask permission before giving any personal information about anyone on my blog (including pictures). Saves my butt and theirs, too!