Should people lose their jobs because of social media comments?

Do you think companies have the right to fire employees based on what they say on social media? What if it's a private Facebook page only meant for the person's Facebook friends to read, but one of the person's Facebook friends shows the comments to the person's employer?

No. Work and people's personal lives need to be kept separate.

A cop posts on her social media site that she would like to see all members of X minority die by their own hands in gang warfare without cop intervention.

A school teacher posts super-intelligent kids ruin it for everyone and she hates to see them succeed.

A doctor posts that people who get Parkinsons were destined to by a god, angry at their sins, and that they should just be let to die without medical care.

A judge posts that his colleagues cases are giving too much credence and support to drug dealers from the dregs of society.

Yeah... let's just pretend that they're separate.

If you're dumb enough to get caught, then generally yes.

It kind of depends on the job though. If you're a teacher and you make a post about how all black children are evil little ingrates, then there's clearly a problem.

The rights a company has is included in the contract the employee signs when he's hired.

It depends...

If it's a social media account that can in no easy way link the person to his employer, then I say he is free to say anything he wants. He would need to ensure that those with access to his posts were not employees or customers of his employer and that no where does it say who his employer is. But if there are other company employees or customers who can see his posts, then yes, if he says things that can be embarrassing for the company in anyway, they have the right to censure him.

I have my Facebook on the highest level of privacy, have no customers or coworkers as friends and do not say who I work for. I say what I want to say. My other social media accounts like Twitter are more "open" insofar as I can't prevent anyone from seeing what I say. Therefore my posts are very gentle and non-controversial lest they reflect badly on my employer.

and their lives, in some cases.

that is why boards like this one where you can stay anonymous are preferable

>>8
There is no such thing as anonymity in the digital age. It just depends on how far a person wants to go to find out.

well it doesn't take much to find out who someone is on Facebook and Twitter, with your name and in some cases picture out there for everyone to see. And that is how these people end up getting fired, they make these outlandish statements under their real names.

>>9
But my employer states I am not to say where I work.

So I can post here & haven't broken that rule.

No. So long as they're not engaging in illegal behavior, however sadly many companies have put their employees on notice about using social media in private life. Big Brother isn't always the government.

Here comes another push by conservatives to ensure blacks don't have jobs.

That depends on the company's social media policy regarding their employees and if it violates that. Word to the wise: never befriend a co worker and especially not your boss/manager...

Totally depends on what it is.

But yes is the answer . If it could harm the employer.

If it has nothing at all to do with work then it shouldn't have a bearing on the employed.

But yes is the answer . If it could harm the employer.

It could harm the employer. The meaning I take from this is that it's a bad look for any company providing a product or service for consumers while also harboring someone who is publicly offensive in one of the billion ways you can now offend someone these days.

Meanwhile....every single fucking company in the world is currently employing a racist, a bigot, a misogynist, someone who hates Christians, Muslims, Catholics, homosexuals, etc etc. Only difference is we're ignorant to their existence, so we can just plod along in our mindless consumerism. Then one of them posts something on Facebook and suddenly it's "OMG look look! There's a racist working at McDonalds. Don't eat their hamburgers. Go to Burger King instead." Meanwhile, the girl tending the counter at BK hates gays.

exactly. I am on message boards where posters brag about getting people fired for reporting what they have posted on Twitter to their employers

I own a company and do not do what you say . so...

yes the multi nationals of course employ these measures, the vast majority of workforce has to comply.

I don't eat fast food though , so no big deal.

Most employers have clauses about Social Media.