Originally Posted by
Macjet
Saying offensive words isn't a crime. It might make the guy an intolerable human being but he's free to say what he wants on his time and his dime. He can be abusive to his kids, his wife, and an A hole to his neighbors too but that isn't justification for termination. He has the right to be a racist, a homophobe, a Democrat, a MAGA hat, Klan, or Antifa. But until he commits an actual crime, and being a racist A hole isn't one, then NJA doesn't have legal grounds (even if the social media crowd is triggered) to fire the guy.
Obviously the specific employment contract governs, but if it’s “at will” employment, where any legal basis, including NO basis, justifies termination , being a racist A hole IS enough to be get one canned.
Also, chances are a racist A hole exposes the company to liability to claims from others in the work environment who are exposed to him/her. If they’re in a leadership position, even more so.
But there are union-protected and government civil service positions that afford much higher levels of protection than “at-will.” And executives with employment contracts can certainly negotiate “good cause” only protections that can require serious misconduct or actual criminal acts.
For the rest of us, just don’t be a dick...