Can I be fired from my job for this?

Ok I am in Illinois, I work for a nation wide chain shoe store. Last week I was sent a couple forwarded texts from some of my friends, that were about Barrack Obama, so I naturally forwarded them to all of my friends, some of which I happen to work with. Apparently someone who received it felt it was offensive, and told our GM. He kept me after we closed tonight for like an hour telling me how corporate will be trying to fire me over this incident. I am 20 years old and an entry level manager. I sent the message when I was not at work, and if I thought for one moment that it would offend any body it never would have left my phone. So I don't see how they can do a damn thing about something that I did while I was not at work. Does anybody know how all this works in Illinois?
Additional Details
Should I consult my families attorney? If I am fired do I have any legal ground to stand on to hit them with a huge lawsuit for harassment?

Stephanie

Your time is actually not your own. Your actions outside of work represent the company. The best job I ever had, I was fired from it and it was 6 weeks after an incident that happened at a night club that didn't involve police or drugs or anything illegal even, but someone else from work was there. Anyway, I don't see you getting fired for this unless you forwarded racist remarks...then they may find something else to fire you over.

But just remember it's an entry-level management job at a shoe store. It's not the end of the world and while you may be beating yourself up on whether you did something wrong...and you don't want to lose your pride, you are going to be ok after this.

I was fired from Cole Haan when I was 21 after Sept. 11th. I loved selling shoes and being in store management, but I never went back. When one door closes, three more open. Sounds cheesy I know.

Don't sweat it, what's been done is done and hopefully you won't lose your job, but after everything blows over, maybe this isn't where you will want to work anymore anyway.

Judy

You are most likely an employee at will, legally. They could fire you for wearing a green tie, if they didn't like your green tie. They can fire you for no reason, or for any reason not specifically prohibited by law.

barrbou214

you never, ever, use anything that you want to be sent as a e-mail that you wouldn't want your mom to read. the computer and the servers belong to them and they have the right to control them in the way they see fit. they are for work, and unless you are working for the guy, you are in violation of company policy. if you accessed your companies system while "off the clock" from a remote computer, then you are so busted. take this as a learned experience and never, ever, use e-mail as a source to relay info that may come back to haunt you.

LadyCatherine

can they legally fire you.. not really.. unless you used a raciest remark about obama then maybe.. but over all no they can not,,.

BUT that does not mean they won't .. legal or not, they can find a reason that has nothing to do with your texting..

AND YES, some of what you do on your off time if company businesses.. sorry...

vicseo

Your action is completely devoid of any concerns of your employer since it was done outside of work on your own cell phone. It's a shame that your GM doesn't get it. There's no actionable cause for dismissal of you at this time. It appears that your so called friends, at least one of them thought it worthwhile to cause you some trouble by reporting this incident to your GM. In the future, you may have to limit text messages only to real long term friends. Shame on the complainer.

Good luck!

jobbend

First of all, consult with an attorney who specializes in labor law in your state - if you choose to go this route. You can also do some research at www.usa.gov.

Here's the real rub: If you are in a work-at-will job, you can be let go, or leave, for any reason, or no reason at all. What your manager may have been telling you is that "the writing is on the wall, you've offended someone, and we'll be watching you very closely".

My last observation is that you forwarded this to "friends". Friends would not typically go to a manager over a message that had nothing to do with work. On the surface, it would appear that someone isn't as friendly as you may believe. This is an observation of the facts you present. There may be other things at play - and probably are.

If I were the HR business partner involved with this, I'd be asking questions to you, the person that complained and the GM that confronted you to find out why this involves the company, and what adverse affect it is having on people doing their job, and conducting business.

enoriverbend

Did you use a company email (or I.M.) account or company email server to send the emails? Were any of the email addresses company email addresses? If so, it may have violated company policy and you might reasonably be in trouble. Just apologize and don't throw any attitude around and they may let it slide.

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