I have a few self-imposed rules about what I post on this blog. I don’t post about politics, I keep the language relatively clean, and I try not to just post a link to something else without providing some kind of commentary of my own. These rules are flexible and I’ve broken each one once or twice, but there’s two I don’t ever break: don’t write about work and don’t write about co-workers unless you have something nice to say.
Why? Well, a lot of it falls under the perview of “don’t be a jerk,” but it could also get you fired. Much of my work involves confidential or sensitive information that it’s obviously wrong to share, but some Brittish guy was fired from his job at a bookstore because of the unflattering comments about the job that he made on his blog. Complaining about this is just stupid, because the guy was obviously making crass, unpleasant remarks about his work and the people there, including his “Evil Boss”. Would it have been any different if he had distributed the comments via an ad in the newspaper or handing out pamplets?
This site lists even more examples. I just don’t get people like this. That last site even lambasts some employers as “Blogophobic Companies” and has an “International Blogger’s Bill of Rights” that says:
- If an employer wishes to discipline an employee because of his/her blog, it must first establish clear-cut blogging policies and distribute these to all of its employees.
- Blogging employees shall be given warning before being disciplined because of their blogs.
- NO ONE shall be fired because of his/her blog, unless the employer can prove that the blogger did intentional damage to said employer through the blog.
This strikes me as ridiculous. You don’t have any “right” to avoid the consequences of what you say on your blog. Or out loud in the hallway, for that matter. If you post inflamatory stuff about your employer or co-workers, they can do what they see fit. If what they do is unlawful under existing laws or contracts, then you’ve got a case. If not, then perhaps you shouldn’t be such a snarky gossip.
I don’t know, people are stupid. But if they are just blogging about how they don’t like their job and they are fired then think the employer could be liable for wrongful termination. Would it be any different if I moonlighted by doing stand-up and someone from my work saw my show where I make jokes that are off-color and racially insensitive? They then come back to the office, HR or my boss finds out and then I’m fired. It would probably be a bigger deal if I was the Director of Diversity, but maybe not as much if I am a Linemen. More importantly, is the person posting these negative comments during company time much like I am doing right now?
There’s a bit of difference between this and “Man, my job is tough.” Or using it as inspiration for non-specific (or exaggerated) jokes. Same for if you disguise your identity and/or the identity of your employer/co-workers, though you could still run the risk of being a jerk if they find out. But singling people out? C’mon. I’m not saying people can’t do it. “21 Dog Years: Doing Time at Amazon.com” was a great book. It’s just that you shouldn’t be shocked or indignant at the fallout.
Essentially this siutation is the same as if your boss overhears you complaining loudly about your job and/or specific co worker to another co worker. I don’t think anyone would be suprised to be fired under those circumstances.
This person ought to be concerned about libel since he actually published his musings about his co workers.
Interestingly, there’s a piece on NPR on this very topic. It has an interview with Heather Armstrong of the excellent dooce.com and the gal that created the “Blogger’s Bill of Rights.”
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4458522