But just because it may be legal to post something on social media - even something outrageous - that doesn't mean it's wise to post it there, particularly when your employer will have to deal with the fallout.

https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-774560

Make damn sure you understand your company's policies toward social media posting before you step on your Richard for a potentially career ending mistake. Or, I dunno, post on an anonymous board maybe.

Even were I to concede that this guy's statement were sufficiently weasel worded to be technically correct, IT JUST DOESN'T matter. The company doesn't need to deal with the fellow pilots who will not want to fly with the guy let alone the pax that won't want to fly with him.

 

Rule of thumb to stay out of harm's way, both on forums and the airplane. 1. No politics;
2. No religion (including bible thumping); and definitely
3. No pictures of'
A. Wives; and or
B. Husbands

 

Save it for Thanksgiving.

And the voting booth. Your employee can't see how you voted ... yet.

 

I've had some interesting conversations about life, god, origins of man, and so on, on long trips. I've also had some intelligent, thought-provoking discussions about politics, and I'm alway happy to see family pictures when folks want to share them.

It's the conspiracy and extremist fruitcakes that really need to stay silent, or those with an agenda, or those who can't talk about more than oen thing. I really don't want to spend fourteen hours listening to how much someone hates the company, hates their country, hates the "other side," or be sold on their brand of belief.

Sometimes I find it's helpful to interview the other person. Ask a few questions, and people love to talk aobut themselves for hours. On occasion, it's interesting, and on others tolerable.

I once had a F/O who began telling me how much he thought US troops deserved to die, in Iraq. It ****ed me off, and concerned me at the same time. While I'm a big proponent of one's right to speak and believe, he crossed a line for me, and upon landing, I preferred a different F/O. I later had a talk with the director of training, and mentioned the comments made by the F/O. It wasn't long after 09/11. The Director of Training said, "I'd have fired him." I didn't think I could do that. "Put him off the flight and make it known," he said. "He would have been gone the same day."

That approach didn't sit well with me, either, but it also made some sense. The F/O might have been a security concern. Time, and place. I never saw him again, and never cared to.

 

Its not going to be easy for him to be canned as long as:

1) He has completed probation

2)He didnt violate any laws with his posts.

3) He was not wearing his uniform or wearing any company ID or logos etc while making these statements\

4) He was not making any statements (verbal or written) while using the companys likeness

5) He was not using any company property to post, and was not posting on company time.

If any of these 5 took place, then he deserves to, and is likely to be canned, BUT as long as none of those 5 things took place, its going to be VERY easy for any attorney worth their salt to win this pilots case.

Remember, unlike the Air Canada pilot who willingly ID'd himself as such, this guy did NOT make any mention of where he worked, and it was only discovered after he (rightfully) caused controversery.

 

It's not a matter of "any attorney" it's a matter of the company social media policy and the protections of the CBA. Excepting for those, most states are "at will" states where your employer really doesn't need any reason to fire you.