How to Tweet Your Way Out of a Job

[Just Jack]

How to Tweet Your Way Out of a Job

 

Hate your job? Want to leave without giving two weeks notice? Thanks to Twitter, it’s never been easier to get fired. All you have to do is sign up for an account and follow these simple steps. You’ll be unemployed in no time!

[Steely Dan]

Step 1: Drunk Tweet

 

@MikeBacsik: “Congrats to all the dirty mexicans in San Antonio.”

 

(Very stupid tweet and he deserved to get fired because he's a high profile guy, JMO)

 

Step 2: Break the Law (or Just Anger Your Governor)

 

@HaleyBarbour: “Glad the Legislature recognizes our dire fiscal situation. Look forward to hearing their ideas on how to trim expenses.”

“Schedule regular medical exams like everyone else instead of paying UMC employees overtime to do it when clinics are usually closed.”

 

(I don't think she broke any HIPPA laws. It easily could have been reported by a news agency and so I don't think it's information that shouldn't be in the public domain, JMO)

 

Step 3: Have an NSFW Lifestyle

 

Thinking she was now safely anonymous, she used Twitter to promote her blog and to discuss sexually explicit topics with her followers. However, when her boss at the non-profit group where she worked was told by upper management to do a Google search of all employees, TBK’s Twitter account information—with her real name still associated—came up on the Twitter tracking site topsy.com.

 

The next day, TBK was called into her boss’ office and fired on the spot. Afterwards, her former boss sent her a letter saying, “While I know you are a good worker and an intelligent person, I hope you try to understand that our employees are held to a different standard. When it comes to private matters, such as one’s sexual explorations and preferences, our employees must keep their affairs private.” Because Missouri is an at-will employment state, meaning employers can fire someone for just about any reason, TBK was SOL.

 

(What happens outside of work and has no bearing on the job isn't anyone else's business, JMO)

 

Step 4: Question Company Policy

@traphik: “black button ups are the lamest s**t ever!!!”

 

(I think this falls under free speech rights. I think he's allowed to express an opinion if he wants. He was only commenting on the shirts. There is one other tweet he made referring to his work place as “Calipornia Skeetza Kitchen.” but that's just funny, JMO)

 

Step 5: Make a Celebrity Look Bad

 

@PapaBarrett: Jane Adams, star of HBO series “Hung” skipped out on a $13.44 check. Her agent called and payed the following day. NO TIP!!!”

 

(He continued on with other tweets later about celebrities and what they ate at the restaurant. That I think is fireable. Customers should expect a level of privacy at a restaurant. Especially if they're high profile people. JMO)

 

Step 6: Don’t Get Hired in the First Place

 

@theconnor: Cisco just offered me a job! Now I have to weigh the utility of a fatty paycheck against the daily commute to San Jose and hating the work.

 

@timmylevad: Who is the hiring manager. I’m sure they would love to know that you will hate the work. We here at Cisco are versed in the web.

 

(That was just stupid and because she hadn't been hired yet I think it's justified, JMO)

 

The moral of the story? Don't open a twitter account, JMO.

[CowgirlsFan]

Step 1: Drunk Tweet

 

@MikeBacsik: “Congrats to all the dirty mexicans in San Antonio.”

 

(Very stupid tweet and he deserved to get fired because he's a high profile guy, JMO)

 

Step 2: Break the Law (or Just Anger Your Governor)

 

@HaleyBarbour: “Glad the Legislature recognizes our dire fiscal situation. Look forward to hearing their ideas on how to trim expenses.”

“Schedule regular medical exams like everyone else instead of paying UMC employees overtime to do it when clinics are usually closed.”

 

(I don't think she broke any HIPPA laws. It easily could have been reported by a news agency and so I don't think it's information that shouldn't be in the public domain, JMO)

 

Step 3: Have an NSFW Lifestyle

 

Thinking she was now safely anonymous, she used Twitter to promote her blog and to discuss sexually explicit topics with her followers. However, when her boss at the non-profit group where she worked was told by upper management to do a Google search of all employees, TBK’s Twitter account information—with her real name still associated—came up on the Twitter tracking site topsy.com.

 

The next day, TBK was called into her boss’ office and fired on the spot. Afterwards, her former boss sent her a letter saying, “While I know you are a good worker and an intelligent person, I hope you try to understand that our employees are held to a different standard. When it comes to private matters, such as one’s sexual explorations and preferences, our employees must keep their affairs private.” Because Missouri is an at-will employment state, meaning employers can fire someone for just about any reason, TBK was SOL.

 

(What happens outside of work and has no bearing on the job isn't anyone else's business, JMO)

 

Step 4: Question Company Policy

@traphik: “black button ups are the lamest s**t ever!!!”

 

(I think this falls under free speech rights. I think he's allowed to express an opinion if he wants. He was only commenting on the shirts. There is one other tweet he made referring to his work place as “Calipornia Skeetza Kitchen.” but that's just funny, JMO)

 

Step 5: Make a Celebrity Look Bad

 

@PapaBarrett: Jane Adams, star of HBO series “Hung” skipped out on a $13.44 check. Her agent called and payed the following day. NO TIP!!!”

 

(He continued on with other tweets later about celebrities and what they ate at the restaurant. That I think is fireable. Customers should expect a level of privacy at a restaurant. Especially if they're high profile people. JMO)

 

Step 6: Don’t Get Hired in the First Place

 

@theconnor: Cisco just offered me a job! Now I have to weigh the utility of a fatty paycheck against the daily commute to San Jose and hating the work.

 

@timmylevad: Who is the hiring manager. I’m sure they would love to know that you will hate the work. We here at Cisco are versed in the web.

 

(That was just stupid and because she hadn't been hired yet I think it's justified, JMO)

 

The moral of the story? Don't open a twitter account, JMO.

Yep...very familar with the Mike Bacsik deal....a former local on my 1310am...not good

[BuffaloBill]

I am always amazed by the people who do not think about the fact that their online activities are absolutely available to anyone with the desire to dig. In some cases it does noit even take any effort to get at the information. There is no privacy on the internet - to think otherwise is foolish.

[SageAgainstTheMachine]

I am always amazed by the people who do not think about the fact that their online activities are absolutely available to anyone with the desire to dig. In some cases it does noit even take any effort to get at the information. There is no privacy on the internet - to think otherwise is foolish.

 

Yep. The true irony is that, while society has grown increasingly narcissistic in the twitter/facebook age, people have the gall to assume that their employers and other people of authority won't be paying attention.

[Arkady Renko]

Step 3: Have an NSFW Lifestyle

 

Thinking she was now safely anonymous, she used Twitter to promote her blog and to discuss sexually explicit topics with her followers. However, when her boss at the non-profit group where she worked was told by upper management to do a Google search of all employees, TBK’s Twitter account information—with her real name still associated—came up on the Twitter tracking site topsy.com.

 

The next day, TBK was called into her boss’ office and fired on the spot. Afterwards, her former boss sent her a letter saying, “While I know you are a good worker and an intelligent person, I hope you try to understand that our employees are held to a different standard. When it comes to private matters, such as one’s sexual explorations and preferences, our employees must keep their affairs private.” Because Missouri is an at-will employment state, meaning employers can fire someone for just about any reason, TBK was SOL.

 

(What happens outside of work and has no bearing on the job isn't anyone else's business, JMO)

 

Unfortunately, you can get fired for reasons that are even less fair. We could all be fired for being Bills fans without a contract.

[billsfan89]

Employers have started to look at Twitter and Facebook to see the conduct of their applicants and employees. I remember the story about an Eagles employee getting fired for bashing the team on Facebook. A lot of people forget that Facebook even if you have the privacy settings on companies can pay to get your info and while there is a way to opt out of that its hard to do so.

 

Hell odds are if you have a facebook account they have sold your info to an ad agency or marketing firm. And if you think its wrong they have the right to do so its in the user agreement and you have the right to opt out (Its just really hard to do so).