Off-duty anchorwoman goes on nasty rant when she had her car towed - is one week suspension too much, not enough or perfect discipline for her?

Given the comments I have read about the particular towing company, a week seems about right. If I did that, no one would ever see the video, and even if they did chances are, as an unknown person, I might even be called a hero for sticking up for people who are victimized by sleazy companies.

The only reason she is suspended is because she is a public person. But the whole episode really has nothing to do with her job or her ability to carry it out.

Generally speaking, I would agree with those that say what one does on one’s own time is none of the employer’s business. However, this person invoked their employer publicly during this incident. Thus, out is up to the employer’s representative to determine the appropriate punishment.

It is their reputation on the line, after all. If they are comfortable with a one week suspension, great. Maybe it’s enough to convince the employee to keep their mouth shut. Or it’s the first step in the road to unemployment. Who knows.

If she worked for me in that capacity, her contract would compel her to not make the brand look bad, ever. If she announces an affiliation with my company then behaves like that on camera, she is violating a basic “good behavior in public” clause.
I would fire her in a heartbeat.
And really, what a jerk.

I think it’s wonderful that this has gone viral.

So frequently, it is men that do these dumbass things and get taped, and become instant negative celebrities.

Now we have an woman who sounds like a screaming bitch (and I say that with the greatest of respect), making an utter ass of herself.

I see this episode as a major step in the feminism journey towards full equality for women. She has proven that women can be assholes just as well as men can.

As far as punishment, a week is fine. This woman has to live for the next 60 years with her name (and video) on Facebook. That will follow her forever. To me, that’s a punishment far worse than ESPN could ever apply.

If there is something in her contract regarding unacceptable behavior outside of work, then the decision-maker of the punishment may fit the crime. Without knowing what the contract says, no one should judge whether a week’s suspension was right.

What saddens me is that the public apology posted on Twitter isn’t directed towards the appropriate audience (those she offended) and it doesn’t sound sincere.

In an intense and stressful moment, I allowed my emotions to get the best of me and said some insulting and regrettable things. As frustrated as I was, I should always choose to be respectful and take the high road. I am so sorry for my actions and will learn from this mistake.

That’s because it isn’t sincere.

This is why I don’t believe in apologies. She meant to say exactly what she said, for whatever reasons she had at the time. No one put those words in her mouth.

Regardless of the towing company, she’s still a cunt. I hate her.

I think its funny that she says, she has a brain. Too bad she left it in her purse at this time. It is probably on her contract somewhere that she must never do anything to give ESPN a black eye or there will be consequences.

One week isn’t long enough. They should’ve added a money penalty as well and and given it to the employee of the car tow company. Money talks. Bull crap walks. It would teach her to get a grip on her temper in the future.

On a side note though. If she was just a regular person of any company and did not use the company name and they have some decency clause, than it shouldn’t be allowed. Only once you use the company name you give them a black eye as well.

As a mom I would be ashamed to have raised a son or a daughter to behave that way towards an individual doing their job. The lady behind the window didn’t tow her car.
A perfect example of beautiful on the outside and ugly on the inside.

Laughable really, the degree of narcissism is so glaringly obvious. “Don’t you know who I AM?” “I’m on TV!” lol
She’s an immature little spoiled twit and clearly her apology is nothing but contrived back peddling. Her true colors came shining through. A weeks suspension is a slap on the hand with a feather. Oh well…hardly significant in my world. haha

If I were her boss I would negotiate with the tow company to have her be an employee for a month (we’d pay her salary). I would only allow her to come back to work for me if she completed a month in the cashier’s booth and got good remarks on her performance as a cashier from the towing company.

She shouldn’t be suspended at all in my opinion. How can a job tell you how to live your life outside of work. Unless an employer is paying you while you are not at work, then this is not their business. Determining factors for suspension or firing should be contained to misconduct at work.
This should be between her and this towing company. Also why does anyone care what language she chooses to use outside of the spotlight? especially in a stressful situation. This is political correctness gone way too far. If she is going to sue anyone, it should be her employer.

I never heard of her before and she’ll probably skyrocket in popularity now. I’m not an ESPN customer but in the end, they will determine her fate. I really doubt this will hurt her career at all and unfortunately it will probably help it.

If she was just a bitch on her own time, I’d say it’s her life.

Since she brought up her employer, I’m embarrassed for ESPN.

Damn. I really wish @gorillapaws suggestion would happen in real life. That would be rad.

@gorillapaws Your suggested resolution is a perfect, brilliant proposal that would help her far more than a week’s suspension. Now, if it could only work in the real world . . .

This is a perfect example of internet behavior manifesting in real life.

Everybody has behaved like a total douche in their life. The important thing is whether she learned that being a douche is douchey and not tolerated on the Internet.

Seriously, should I be punished by my employer if I take my shitty day out on some anonymous fucktard in a Hardee’s drive-thru that can’t tell the difference between straight and curly fries? I bet the folks crying the hardest about this real world party foul are pretty content to be complete assholes in every online forum and comment section they can find.

@Blondesjon She was verbally abusing and belittling the employee. The lady in the booth didn’t tow her car, nor did she make her park in an illegal spot. You can have a bad day, that doesn’t justify abusing other human beings.

As far as the “anonymous fucktard at Hardee’s” I have a feeling that they work a lot harder than most people realize. Getting an order wrong likely has a hell-of-a-lot more to do with managing the chaos of getting dozens of simultaneous orders correct in a very short timespan than with their ability to distinguish between straight and curly fries.

@gorillapaws . . . You sir, must frequent very few Hardee’s. This is probably a good thing.

Also, I am not justifying abusing other human beings. I am simply inviting those without sin to cast the first stone.

mmm Hardees.

Casting stone. I have never spoken to anyone like that in my life! I’ve gotten upset, and spoken with management, but to insult that poor woman like she did? To stand there in all her smug beauty and belittle another woman’s face and looks because her car got towed? No.

I’ll have to take you at your word on that @Dutchess_III.

Don’t confuse that with never getting angry. I get angry. I just don’t hit below the belt like she did. That’s what all of that was, hitting below the belt.

I’ll have to take you at your word on that @Dutchess_III.

Why does any of this surprise you.
Did you think she was anything like her on air persona?
And if so, what’s wrong with you?
If everybody lost their job for being rude, half the minimum wage jobs on Earth would disappear.

LOL! That is so true @josie!

except for those fucktards at hardee’s

one is twisty and one is straight for chrissakes

@Blondesjon And the lady at Taco Bell who was trying to tell me that the hair in my food wasn’t from an employee because no one who worked there had short curly hair. Everybody has short curly hair, lady.

One is twisty and one is straight for chrissakes. ;)

I personally don’t think her job should do anything, except to say that if she affects their business and they do something to try to remedy the situation in the public eye they are justified. In essence I am saying I don’t think it is her employer’s place to “punish” her. However, since she is in the public eye her actions reflect on them and they can take whatever steps they feel is justified to save face.

It does horrify me a little that what someone does off company time can get them fired though. I don’t even agree with suspending athletes for foolishness in their private life.

Mmmm. Hardees. I wanna talk to one of those fucktards at Hardees. I haven’t had Hardees in soooo long. But Taco Bell sucks because everybody puts their pub hairs in my food.