Is it ok to fire people over hate speech?

“Is it ok to fire people over hate speech?”

Yes.

I think he should have been taken aside in private and admonished. To straight fire him off a single offence is rather draconian to me. If there were anyone spiritual that worked there, they should admonish him scripturally and tell him God doesn’t hate gays, he hate the sin they do, which is no different than hetero people who fornicate.

They fire anyone over there that’s a temp really easily. Rather sad.

@Hypocrisy_Central

And what if he had said Christians should be shot and killed? Would firing him still seem draconian to you?

^ Nope…..I would still take him aside privately and admonish him why the work place is not the place for utterances like that.

I’d have fired him. It’s completely inappropriate conduct to say things like that in the workplace.

Something to keep in mind is that when someone is fired for hate speech, it’s not just because they have hateful views. It’s also because they showed extremely bad judgment by choosing to express those views in a place where it is inappropriate. Why keep a temporary worker who has already shown that he doesn’t make good decisions?

Yes, I think it’s okay to fire someone over that kind of speech. It would have been one thing if he even vehemently disagreed with the “lifestyle” of gay people, but he brought physical violence and death into it. If there are any gay employees, there is no reason in the world that they should be made to feel potentially unsafe in their own work environment. If I was gay, I sure as hell wouldn’t feel physically safe being alone in a room with that kind of person.

It depends upon what your definition of “okay” is. Might it not depend upon the country of residence? Do you mean based upon law of the area? The ethical code of conduct set by the company? Personal morals? It may also depend upon the severity of the comment and/or action.

I worked for a company that had a Zero Tolerance Policy regarding behavior such as this. All employees, be it part time or full time, and possibly contracted, were required to sign an agreement on the front end that spelled out what ethical behavior was expected and the repercussion (immediate termination) if found guilty of breaking this code.

I witnessed several team members be fired based upon this rule over my 25 years with the company. Many were intelligent and/or talented, but they crossed a line that they not only agreed to adhere, but they potentially damaged the reputation of the company. These were extreme degrees, just like the one you share.

There are times though when it is worthy of a documented warning. For example, an employee who directly reported to me used the phrase during a sales training course of “Jewing people down in rate.” When it came to my attention, I met with the person and asked her if she made the statement. She said, “Yes.” I asked her if she knew what it meant. She didn’t. When I explained that the phrase was a slander to the Jewish community, she just about crawled under the table from embarrassment. She had no idea; it was just a phrase she had heard all of her life and never gave a thought to its meaning. A note went in her file. I called each of the class participants back to offer an explanation and apology.

Violating state and/or federal law is grounds for termination.

The most recent Supreme Court ruling that I am aware of is that hate speech that promotes imminent violence is NOT protected by the First Amendment, and that was an 8–1 ruling.

If you live to be fifty years old and still haven’t figured out the Thumper Code (“If you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothing at all.”), I wouldn’t waste my time trying to educate you on workplace etiquette.

It’s not the boss’s responsibility to parent an adult and teach them not to say mean things in the workplace.

Yes, he deserved to be fired.

Thanks for responses everyone!

I hope your sister wakes up and finds someone who actually knows what it means to believe in a God. Or not believe. But believes in being a decent human being with decent ideas.

@jerv Pretty much said it. Someone like that isn’t playing with a loaded deck and so you probably wouldn’t want him working anywhere near you.

Only if the determination that what was said is hate speech is made by someone sensible. I’ve seen firings for far less. This guy should have known better. Charisma don’t buy you sense apparently.

I would agree that firing is an acceptable response. I’ll go a little further in that anytime you indicate (honestly or not) that you may kill someone, termination is the only safe way out. If that person did kill someone at work and you knew of their feelings you could share responsibility for that act. Deadly threats are deadly serious.

Yes, it’s OK. If they have those types of thoughts, they should keep them to themselves.

I would go with the standard 1 verbal and 2 written reprimands (for repeated equal offences) before firing someone.

@Jaxk

For once we’re in agreement. Furthermore, if word of such attitude by your employee got out it could turn away customers/clients. It’s just plain bad for business.

I 100% agree with what @DrasticDreamer wrote.

It depends. You say he made a comment, who was the comment made to? What was his tone of voice? What was the context? It may be grounds for firing but maybe a warning would have been more appropriate.

@flutherother Why does it matter who he said it to?

@Jaxk Makes an excellent point. You could be opening you company up to a major lawsuit if you don’t fire the person.

@JLeslie It’s part of the context. If it was said to a friend in a joking manner that is one thing if it was said to a gay in the office in a menacing way it has a different significance. Neither is acceptable but the latter is more serious in my view.

@flutherother I’ll agree a joking manner might be borderline if with someone who is joking as well. In a menacing manner it doesn’t matter who it is. They can be straight, gay, black, white, purple, Martian, it doesn’t matter. If he said it to me I’m straight, but my sister is bi, my BIL gay, friends who are gay, and basically any sort if threatening language of violence about anyone in a serious manner is scary shit. Someone who hates gay people is probably more likely to hate Muslims, maybe Jews, atheists. Hate is hate. It rarely is confined to one group.

Let’s just call it devout ignorance. I agree with @JeSuisRickSpringfield. Well put.