Can a company fire an employee for their actions outside of work?

spyderman131

A company can let you go if there policy states it

bostonianinmo

Sure! And if they were my employees, I'd give the sack to the ones who purchased the alcohol for him in the first place!

Lacking a contract, employment is considered "at will." Either party is free to sever the relationship at any time and for any reason. This includes no reason at all.

Any conduct by an employee that tends to put the company in a bad light would certainly be grounds for dismissal -- not that one is needed in an at will situation.

Employees participating in illegal activities (underage drinking and supplying alcohol to a minor) would clearly be grounds for dismissal even if the employee has a contract.

smoothie

I would think that there would have to be some kind of ethics policy in place, but any company can fire you for any reason it deems justifiable as long as you are an at will employee.

butrcupps

One example of an employee being fired for what he does after hours is drug testing. I worked at a hospital. At the time, they claimed that the only crime for which you would be immediately fired was drug or alcohol related because they could not keep their license and employ anyone with those convictions.

Michael R

Yes you can be fired for something that happensd outside of work. I have seen people get fired for fighting at christmas parties and things that they have done while off the clock.

acsodeputy867

yes it is called vicarouis liabilty

isha s

It is bit too harsh for them to have done so. But again each company has it's own procedures and policies. The company can revert back and say they don't want to employ some one who doesn't follow the law of the land. But in that case the guy can also threaten the company for discrimination. If the guy's co-leagues who he went put partying with, work with the same company they too have moral oblgation to the law of the land and they should have reported this matter to police instead of encouraging him to drink. Now that they haven't done it, the company shoud fire them too if it has decided to fire this guy. If it doesn't then he can sue them clearly for a case of discrimanation on the basis of Age.

I'm sure the company wouldn't like to fire so many people ove such a small issue. If it does thenpersonally speakin, I would be happy to quit such a sick emloyer and find a beter one!

Proud to be an American

The employees were technically committing a crime by buying liquor for an underage drinker. What actions that can be taken are determined by the laws in your state. Locally, a cop lost his job for taking nude pictures of his 18 year old girlfriend on top of his cruiser while off duty.

*****

Yes, there are quite a few state now where the employer can fire you at will, without any explanation, and you have NO legal recourse whatsoever. I saw this story on 60 minutes about 3 months ago.

fr_chuck

Yes they can, ?? cite something, company has a right to fire anyone for any reason, or even no reason. ( called right to work)

Next of course, and a person who does illegal activities can be fired for doing anything illegal.

safedialup

Depends.

Does your job have a 0 alchol policy? Were you drunk on your way to work? Did you get nailed in a work vehicle?

It all depends my friend.

melouofs

In my state (PA) employers benefit from a "no cause" law which basically states an employee can be terminated from his position WITHOUT CAUSE at any time. The exception is that a person cannot be fired for his inclusion in a protected group--like you can't fire someone because of their race, religion, gender...but what you describe would not fall under such protection, and I would think in my state the employer would have every right to fire you. In addition, because you were with co-workers, it could be argued you were representing the company in the community and therefore exposing them to harm because of your illegal actions.

bigonegrande

The private life of any amployee is not the concern of the management, as long as duties are done in time the boss has no juristinction on outside matters of any worker.
A labor lawyer will give the wright advice to you and your boss.

lollipoppett2005

Only if the companys is brought into disrepute. I would get legal advise on this one.

Someone

In cases like this, the company has to prove that those pictures have harmed the company (I think)

It was probably not right to fire the employee, but to do anything you'll have to drag them to court and put up a lot of legal fees, probably not worth it.

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