Can an employer fire you for a comment you post on Facebook if it did not contain specific names or departments?

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Can an employer fire you for a comment you post on Facebook if it did not contain specific names or departments?

I was fired on 03/15 from my full-time job as an EMT for posting a comment about another EMT’s attitude. I was working at my part-time job as a 911 dispatcher and was very busy on 2 critical calls. An EMT on 1 of the runs was giving me a hard time and a lot of attitude over the radio. I posted a comment after I was off work about her attitude. My ex-boss called me later that evening and asked me what my post was about. I told him part of it was about the other EMT. He stopped me mid-sentence and said he couldn’t have me bashing the department, that I was no longer needed, and to turn in my key.

Asked on March 22, 2011 under Employment Labor Law, Kentucky

Answers:

M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 13 years ago | Contributor

I'm afraid that unless you have an employment contract or union agreement to the contrary, or there is some form of form of workplace discrimination involved, your employer had every right to do this.  In an "at will" employment relationship an employer can basically mandate whatever it wants, including firing an employee for any reason (or no reason) and without notice.  The fact is that your problem has become more and more common. In the future, I'm sure you'll be vigilant about not posting anything that you wouldn't want an employer to see.


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