Unbelievable!
My dear friend Mr. Fab of Pointless Drivel has been fired for having a blog. Some IDIOT in his workplace apparently complained that his having a blog created a “Hostile Work Environment”.
Yes, he did occasionally write about his work, workplace and his co-workers. But, and big BUT it is, he never ever said anything bad about his workplace or his co-workers. He would occasionally poke fun at his co-workers but I’m sure that it would be clear to anyone reading his blog that he was joking. Heck, most of the co-workers that he wrote about ended up doing guest posts on his site from time to time.
It’s rare for people to actually love their job, or at least I think it is since I hear more complaints about peoples jobs or workplaces than compliments. However, Mr. Fab was one of those rare individuals who happened to love his job. He loved it so much that he had planned to work there until retirement.
Blogs are online journals. Many bloggers use their blogs to write about the day to day happenings in their life. For those of us that work, there’s a good chance that from time to time we are going to write about our work, our workplace or even our co-workers. Particularly if we either hate or love our job.
I haven’t worked due to illness for almost 9 months now, but I too love my job and I’ve written about it occasionally. I’m sure that when I do get back to work I’ll write about it more often. Or, at least I thought I would until I heard that this had happened to Mr. Fab on Wednesday.
Since I’m a nurse, if I were to get fired from my job for having a blog and or writing about my workplace in my blog it would probably be because I compromised a patients or the hospitals confidentiality. That, of course, will not happen, because if and when I do write about my work I plan to be very vague about the details. I don’t think I’ll let any of my co-workers know that I have a blog either.
I don’t plan to hide who I am or where I am as I think it would be easy enough for someone who knows me or who wants to find out who I am to figure it out by reading this blog and doing a bit of digging. But I’m not going to make it easy by telling my co-workers about this site either.
I’m also not going to promise myself that I won’t write about my work. I love my job, it’s part of my life and who I am and I don’t think that I could stop myself from mentioning a few things about work or my profession from time to time.
I also don’t think that Mr. Fab could have stopped himself from writing about his work occasionally either as it was part of him too. He loved his job and it sounds like he was a fantastic employee to have around. He planned fund raising events and entertained at them and other work related events. He traveled for his job too. What a great blogging opportunity! Travel and write about your experiences. How could he NOT write about it I ask.
He didn’t blog from work. He didn’t write anything bad about his workplace or co-workers. Why was he fired? Why wasn’t he given a warning rather than the axe? What he thinks happened is that someone that he might have offended in someway at work, or perhaps someone that might have something to gain if he were either reprimanded or fired went to the boss and LIED about his blogging activities. Go read his blog, obviously his boss didn’t ’cause there’s nothing there that would create a Hostile work environment. Nothing.
It just doesn’t make any sense. I’m very upset for him that this has happened. He’s in Florida, and according to the laws there they can fire you without first giving you a warning, or at least I think that is the case. Either way, I do hope that he finds some way to fight this. It’s a shame really, and I hope his former workplace realizes that they did themselves a disservice by firing him. He was a good worker, with a great attitude who loved his job. That’s rare.
I’ve worked with far too many people over the years who to them, their job is just a job, and they barely gave 50% of themselves to their work. For the most part I’m talking about nurses. Now do you want to be cared for by a nurse that is only there because it’s a job or one who loves her work and actually cares how you feel? Yeah, I thought so. Then there’s people like Mr. Fab who sounds like he gave more than 100%, that’s what I mean by rare.
Go over to Mr. Fabs site and read his last three posts for a better idea of just what happened to him and to give him a cyber hug.
Some questions for you before you go:
- Do you write about your work on your blog?
- Do you hide your identity and even perhaps where you are from?
- Do your co-workers, bosses or family know about your blog or visit your blog?
- If your co-workers, boss or family reads your blog has it ever gotten you into a situation you regret?
Come on, talk to me.
Some questions for you before you go:
1. Do you write about your work on your blog?
I am a one woman band, I allude to it – and share the funny moments. I never mention names.
2. Do you hide your identity and even perhaps where you are from?
No and no – no need to thankfully.
3. Do your co-workers, bosses or family know about your blog or visit your blog?
My family do and often suggest subjects to blog about. My kids and parner get mentioned by name, but no-one else does unless I have their specific permission.
4. If your co-workers, boss or family reads your blog has it ever gotten you into a situation you regret?
Not yet ……..
1. Occassionally yet rarely..For one it is touchy and confidential. Two, not many are too interested in Behavioral Sciences. 🙁
2.Not really. When I first began this quest, I was vague. I dont “in your face say where who and what” but I dont go out of my way to hide it either.
3. Family? HUbby and Mom. If the others do, they havent said anything. Work, some do, some dont. Again they dont say anything.
4. Family and friends…it as illicited some great conversations.. 🙂
…It is terrible for Mr. Fab, I just can not believe how quick and dirty they did this..My hubby is an Internet Systems Security Analyst, hence a puter pusher, lol, he said they can do and will do at anytime that the “fine” print is crossed…TOuchy situation with many many companies…He needs to dig deeper and by rights..When he goes to the local DOL/unemployment, they should present it all..Really sucks.
1) I occasionally make references to former employees but only if positive. In fact I try to keep my blog on a positive spin choosing not to write about negative experiences.
2) no. I have no problem with others knowing who I am;
3) I write about Raffaella all the time. She is my life.
4) no.
It is too bad that drivel had problems for his blog but this just shows how powerful corps have become. Too many people looking for too few jobs makes for terrible employment conditions.
Ah, man. That is six shades of suck.
1. Yes, I write about work. But I usually do so members-only.
2. A little of both. I’ve made no secret of my first name or the general area where I live.
3. Lots of people IRL are aware of it, but few visit. My boss definitely knows about my blog.
4. Nah, not really. I try to be sort of safe with the things I write.