Man fired for being a Brony....

[FoxyCryptid 4,330]

At will employment is generally described as "any hiring is presumed to be 'at will'; that is, the employer is free to discharge individuals 'for good cause, or bad cause, or no cause at all,'

 

October 2000, the Supreme Court of California stated:

 

[A]n employer may terminate its employees at will, for any or no reason ... the employer may act peremptorily, arbitrarily, or inconsistently, without providing specific protections such as prior warning, fair procedures, objective evaluation, or preferential reassignment ... The mere existence of an employment relationship affords no expectation, protectable by law, that employment will continue, or will end only on certain conditions, unless the parties have actually adopted such terms.

 

Only in non-right-to-work states(or maybe the other way around, law confuses me). I believe I've been told that if it's proven you've been fired unjustly(ie: without good reason) the company as to foot to the bill for the unemployment pay. 

Edited September 30, 2013 by Shoboni

[Winona the Dog 1,984]

I'm not sure about the credibility of the source and article but from what it said; I'm kind of split here

 

The man wasn't fired for watching a TV show, but rather for sparkling discussions about it. 

[Nah 3,182]

Honestly, even if it was legit, I really can't tell you if it's legit or not, because reddit is known to house attention whores and liars, but from the looks of it, it is absolutely wrong to fire somebody over an interest in a TV show. I'm not going to be saying "OMG WORST TING EVER!!!!", I've heard countless other stories from other Bronies who get a lot of shit from their workplace. 

 

Then the excuse of "It creeps people out", should not be a valid reason, what's so hard to ask him to change his wallpaper if his employers feel it makes customers feel "uncomfortable", and just saying "Nice shirt" to some girl is not a valid reason either.

[FoxyCryptid 4,330]

Honestly, even if it was legit, I really can't tell you if it's legit or not, because reddit is known to house attention whores and liars, but from the looks of it, it is absolutely wrong to fire somebody over an interest in a TV show. I'm not going to be saying "OMG WORST TING EVER!!!!", I've heard countless other stories from other Bronies who get a lot of shit from their workplace. 

 

Then the excuse of "It creeps people out", should not be a valid reason, what's so hard to ask him to change his wallpaper if his employers feel it makes customers feel "uncomfortable", and just saying "Nice shirt" to some girl is not a valid reason either.

 

And honestly, with the kind of shifty people I've seen even working CS jobs where they deal with people all day "a grown man that watches cartoons" is pretty damn low on the weird list. 

Edited October 1, 2013 by Shoboni

[Shanks 10,816]

The man wasn't fired for watching a TV show, but rather for sparkling discussions about it. 

Yes, but how is that any different from provoking discussions about other subjects people are interested in like sports for example. There are plenty of people that can a tad fanatical over that, yet you don't hear stories about people getting fired for that. If he got pushy about it than the employer might have been right to fire him, but we don't really know that for sure. To say we don't enough to say if the story is true is accurate but to say that we don't know enough to verify if the story is true on one hand and then condemn the man who got fired on the other hand seems to contradict that argument.

 

I will freely admit that my opinion is biased slightly in favor of the guy on the count of companies having a habit of screwing people over, but alot of the arguments on here frankly don't make much sense. How could we possibly know enough to say conclusively that the employer was in the right and yet say that the story is unverified? And how can we say that said conversations he made regarding ponies were inappropriate when we don't have much evidence to state exactly what was said in those conversations? Honestly some of you people are so danged judgmental, it makes me wonder if any of you ever got in any trouble with the boss over something stupid? It tends to put certain things in perspective, like about how companies tend to view their employees as expendable.

[Pinkiepie99 8]

Haters gonna hate. It's bad enough that there is an anti brony gang. The boss might be in it. O.O Let's all just pray that the guy will get a job that will accept for how he is.

[GrimCW 658]

How could we possibly know enough to say conclusively that the employer was in the right and yet say that the story is unverified? 

 

We can't and don't. The assumption running for now is that it may be true, and if it isn't true, what if it was?  As such the discussion is about the legality of the situation. True or not, thats still a very hot topic with how companies tend to treat their employees. Especially with the unemployment rates still being exceedingly high, meaning its "easy" for the employers to find replacements they can abuse. 

 

Fine example, the place I mentioned before, they had about 160 people in and fired/quit (most fired fyi) in that shop alone, and that was within the first SIX months of the year. Not even a full year!

This is a shop that only has a top of 13 people on 2 shifts mind you. And usually it only maxes at about 10, only 3 on nights, the rest days. With night shift expected to keep up with the same work load as the day shift.....

 

They've been through so many people in that space alone that most won't even consider applying to them in the area, as most already have experienced it. They've had to try and attract people from out of the area and even change temp agencies just to hide who the employer is. They've a horrid name now in the area, and literally its only for one space...

They've however felt it was so easy to just get new people through the temp agency that they didn't have to take any real discretion in firing or driving people away. They already screen the incoming people before hire (which is a bit odd, most don't bother with a second interview after the temp agency that I've worked for, they just pick a candidate from the lists and go)

Edited October 1, 2013 by GrimCW

[Powderpuff 390]

The way I see it, the boss asked the guy to stop with the pony stuff cause he thought it was weird. That's pretty annoying and stupid generalizing, but it's his boss. But then, not only does he continue with the pony stuff (directly going against what the boss asked of him) he does so by mentioning it to none other than the boss' daughter. The guy was already uncomfortable with it, but then it's brought up with his daughter involved? I wouldn't be surprised if that set off major warning signs for him.

 

This brony surely didn't mean anything, he was probably just innocently trying to spread love for ponies, or at least defend his own right to it. But when the boss asks you to drop a subject, you really should not bring it up with his daughter. And he mentions that he mostly kept to himself. It's easier for people to question you when you are anti social and don't really open up to anyone. Poor guy probably just likes to keep to himself, but people will read into that and take any 'weird' signals they may get and run with it. It sucks, but I'm a super shy person myself and it's something I deal with.

 

And I apologize if this doesn't make sense or sounds like rambling, I'm trying to type this on my phone and it is not an enjoyable experience.

[GrimCW 658]

The way I see it, the boss asked the guy to stop with the pony stuff cause he thought it was weird. That's pretty annoying and stupid generalizing, but it's his boss. But then, not only does he continue with the pony stuff (directly going against what the boss asked of him) he does so by mentioning it to none other than the boss' daughter. The guy was already uncomfortable with it, but then it's brought up with his daughter involved? I wouldn't be surprised if that set off major warning signs for him.

 

According to the story, he merely complimented the shirt. No harm can be taken from that, and it didn't violate his gag order by a technicality. Most find it offensive if you don't at least greet a newly acquainted child and make some kind of polite remark tward them (usually most mention clothes, hair, looks, shoes, etc..) as I mentioned elsewhere. The boss also could be seen as instigating it by allowing his daughter to have worn the shirt while fully in the knowledge of the employee's like for the show, and then introducing the daughter to him in the first place.

Same for when the OTHER co workers were speaking of the show and bronies. Punishing him for that paints a clear picture of discrimination against the individual. If the others were capable of speaking of the show and such, and he was being gagged, thats just wrong.

 

I can see where the socially awkward part could be seen as odd in connection with, but tbh its why I don't believe in hiding such things. Again, as I've mentioned before, suppressing yourself is BAD for you, and those around you. It can constantly lead to misconceptions and nasty situations both in your own mind, and in those of others.

[RockinRarity 1,605]

This is one of the more interesting discussions we have had in a while. I am getting a little tired of the ones that involve talking about Flash Sentry and other related topics, and there haven't been very many social topics like this as of late.

 

I know that there isn't a whole lot of evidence about this story being true, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was true. Anyone who has been on the Internet ever knows that people assume that bronies are pedophiles without any real evidence besides the fact that they like a show about colorful ponies.

 

Now, I do understand why the boss felt uneasy about this worker. I am by no means saying that his actions were in any way rational, but when we as a culture perpetuate fear for our children and fear of anyone who has any strange qualities at all, including one that may have a quality shared with those who are pedophiles, can you blame him?

 

Again, I am NOT saying that firing the brony was the right thing to do. Because it wasn't, and there needed to be more rational thought in his decision, because making a decision to fire an employee over fear is a sign of a pretty crappy boss.

 

Especially since the brony had a child of his own. When parents have kids, they watch cartoons with their kids, and some parents may even get a little enjoyment out of some of the shows that the kids watch. The boss's paranoia, in that context, is only founded because our society perpetuates fear among so many different things.

 

For example: don't give a homeless man money because he might be a drug addict. Don't let your kids roam the neighborhood because they could be kidnapped. We need to scan everyone for bombs at the airport because terrorism. If you don't eat organic food, then you will die from cancer. Don't talk to a stranger or let a stranger help you with anything because he is probably out to harm you. Worry worry worry, fear fear fear.

 

There is an article online about how Americans don't recognize 10 traits about themselves. One of them is about how much we let fear control our lives. We are far more likely to assume that the guy offering to take you on a tour of the city is going to try to rob you than you are to assume that he is just being a nice guy. We have let a few terrible people ruin our social interactions with people as a whole. When was the last time you ever talked to your neighbors? His often do we greet random people at the grocery store? How often do we display acts of kindness towards people we do not know? There are people who do these things in American society still, but a lot of them are older, and I doubt that we young folk will be picking up that sort of politeness anytime soon.

 

And it is so weird, too, that the boss just assumed that the guy was a pedophile... I want to know... did anyone at that job even bother trying to introduce themselves and try to help non-social brony in the corner open up a little? Nope, the guys were too busy being dickwads in their own social circles without offering a hand to the quiet guy. This may be yet another problem with extrovert/introvert relations and extroverts essentially not understanding introverts. Loud people tend to assume that the quiet ones just don't like people, or they are judgmental, or they have everything to hide.

 

So, if this is a true story, then that is my perspective on the whole thing. We live in a pretty crappy world right now, but what can ya do?

[ChipsAhoyMcCoy 127]

I've seen multiple posts on reddit and news stories and this and to me its just absolutely stupid. The fact that people can be fired over what tv shows they like is just idiotic to me. What do you guys think about this?

[Espurr 449]

It's sad and stupid. But it can't be helped. Some people think guys watching my little pony seems crazy.

[rainbowdashbrony1 130]

Shoot  I tell my workers and boss at my auto parts place that I'm a brony you don't see them firing me because I'm a hard worker for 16 years stocking shelves at Oreilly's

[Sugar Pea 2,682]

I haven't visited Reddit in a while, but the situation seems to be abusing workplace policy by using the power of the almighty "opinion". 

[Rarity Paige Belle 1,854]

I've seen multiple posts on reddit and news stories and this and to me its just absolutely stupid. The fact that people can be fired over what tv shows they like is just idiotic to me. What do you guys think about this?

You know what, Don't believe everything you read on Reddit!

[M'aiq the Liar 5,804]

Well, until I see a legitimate news article on this, I'm inclined to believe that it hasn't actually happened. And those reddit posts never seem to give the full story. Was the person a bad employe before hand? Were there more variables than just them liking mlp? Were they overbearing with mlp to the point that it effected how productive they were at work? It would be terrible to see someone fired for a reason as trivial as liking a tv show, but it always feels like there is far more to the story than those on reddit and tumblr will admit.

[ChipsAhoyMcCoy 127]

Well, until I see a legitimate news article on this, I'm inclined to believe that it hasn't actually happened. And those reddit posts never seem to give the full story. Was the person a bad employe before hand? Were there more variables than just them liking mlp? Were they overbearing with mlp to the point that it effected how productive they were at work? It would be terrible to see someone fired for a reason as trivial as liking a tv show, but it always feels like there is far more to the story than those on reddit and tumblr will admit.

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1041514

 

there you go thats a new report from CNN

[Arctic Night 884]

To be fair, one guy's boss was just concerned for his daughter.  You probably wouldn't want people talking to your kids regardless of their being bronies or not.

 

That, and we never know the full story. Maybe these people were just lazy employees.

 

EDIT: Found it. http://www.reddit.com/r/mylittlepony/comments/1nbhqw/whelp_i_got_fired_yesterday_for_being_a_brony/

Edited June 15, 2014 by Star Stripe

[Scootalove 10,689]

It is really sad. I guess individuality in the workplace where they can enjoy what they do must be nonexistent now.

[Banul 3,831]

Obviously being fired for being a brony is dumb, but I'm inclined to believe that there is more to it than that.

[Arctic Night 884]

It is really sad. I guess individuality in the workplace where they can enjoy what they do must be nonexistent now.

 

It should be. We don't have school "dress codes" and "uniforms" to protect individuality. Work should be the same. Best to leave the ponies at home.

Edited June 15, 2014 by Star Stripe

[M'aiq the Liar 5,804]

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1041514

 

there you go thats a new report from CNN

All CNN did was quote his story from reddit. That is like quoting a 4chan post and saying that he really is a navy seal with over 300 confirmed kills. His story does not provide sources, or his job, or were he worked. It is very vague, and sounds like it could be easily made up. Now firing someone for liking a TV is very, very wrong, as is your boss assumeing you are a pedo because you like childrens shows. And CNN itself says it has not verified this report. Getting fired for liking a tv show is wrong, but this story just screams fake reddit post.

[Rarity Paige Belle 1,854]

It should be. We don't have school "dress codes" and "uniforms" to protect individuality. Work should be the same. Best to leave the ponies at home.

Actually in the UK it's different. Schools have uniforms so that kids don't get bullied over what they wear!

[Arctic Night 884]

Actually in the UK it's different. Schools have uniforms so that kids don't get bullied over what they wear!

Either way, the point is that people focus on productivity.

[Scootalove 10,689]

It should be. We don't have school "dress codes" and "uniforms" to protect individuality. Work should be the same. Best to leave the ponies at home.

Yeah, telling them to leave the ponies at home is easier said than done for most people. But, we all know that employees shouldn't be fired for being who they are.