Facebook and Free Speech

Recently, I came across a story of a woman who was fired from her job for posting negative comments about her boss on Facebook. The woman, of course, was enraged--claiming that her termination was in violation of her freedom of speech. This isn't the first issue I've heard of with social media and free speech. Another woman was discharged from the military for uploading videos on Youtube that showed the woman tormenting captives of the opposition. What do we do with scenarios like these? Who is right--the employee or the employer?

Most of us would rush to the employee's defense because most of us are more likely to be employees than employers. We should be able to say whatever we want, whenever we want, about whoever we want. It's a free country and we are merely exercising our free speech in doing so.

I agree with this idea.....sort of. I agree that expressing our opinions should never have any legal ramifications, but I'm not convinced that it is possible for free speech to have no consequences whatsoever. Suppose you constantly criticize and belittle your spouse on Facebook. Can you say that you were just exercising your free speech when she files for divorce? Will you really have a case?

Employers have a reputation to uphold. A business is its reputation--just like a person is his or her reputation. If a person's repuation is constantly devalued by someone he or she is associated with, the relationship may need to be ended. It is the same way with an employer. The employee may indeed exercise his or her free speech, but not without consequences. Termination of the employee who is damaging the reputation of the business is a no brainer. It is simply good business.