Comments on: Dilbert tangles with First Amendment: When do employees’ free-speech rights cross the line? http://www.hrblunders.com/dilbert-tangles-with-first-amendment-when-do-employees-free-speech-rights-cross-the-line/ The worst mistakes, catastrophes, and near-misses Sat, 24 Jul 2010 21:23:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: Andrew R. http://www.hrblunders.com/dilbert-tangles-with-first-amendment-when-do-employees-free-speech-rights-cross-the-line/comment-page-1/#comment-5389 Andrew R. Sun, 09 Nov 2008 21:01:04 +0000 http://www.hrblunders.com/dilbert-tangles-with-first-amendment-when-do-employees-free-speech-rights-cross-the-line/#comment-5389 "Some companies are checking to make sure workers don’t post derogatory comments about their jobs on the Web." How would they know? If I were posting derogatory comments about my job, I wouldn't use my real name. “Some companies are checking to make sure workers don’t post derogatory comments about their jobs on the Web.”

How would they know? If I were posting derogatory comments about my job, I wouldn’t use my real name.

]]> By: R. B. http://www.hrblunders.com/dilbert-tangles-with-first-amendment-when-do-employees-free-speech-rights-cross-the-line/comment-page-1/#comment-2091 R. B. Wed, 06 Aug 2008 14:23:51 +0000 http://www.hrblunders.com/dilbert-tangles-with-first-amendment-when-do-employees-free-speech-rights-cross-the-line/#comment-2091 I think they really overreacted. We also regulate what is posted on the bulletin boards, but a verbal or written warning would be a more appropriate response to someone who violated this policy, assuming what was posted wasn't pornographic / obscene / discriminatory. Good clean humor in the work environment is necessary. It keeps the culture healthy. We have to be able to laugh at ourselves and our quirks and not take ourselves too seriously. I don't know why the management at this casino was so upset about such a silly cartoon...obviously, they AREN'T drunken lemurs. So why not let the employee know it wasn't really appropriate to post, laugh a little and move on? Are the managers upset because they often get drunk at work? If so, there's a larger problem. The posting of this cartoon seems pretty harmless to me as sometimes this type of humor helps diffuse bitterness. And yes, I'm an HR manager and yes, I love Dilbert. Not all of us HR people are evil, but I still enjoy the humor of the cartoon. Lighten up! I think they really overreacted. We also regulate what is posted on the bulletin boards, but a verbal or written warning would be a more appropriate response to someone who violated this policy, assuming what was posted wasn’t pornographic / obscene / discriminatory. Good clean humor in the work environment is necessary. It keeps the culture healthy. We have to be able to laugh at ourselves and our quirks and not take ourselves too seriously.

I don’t know why the management at this casino was so upset about such a silly cartoon…obviously, they AREN’T drunken lemurs. So why not let the employee know it wasn’t really appropriate to post, laugh a little and move on? Are the managers upset because they often get drunk at work? If so, there’s a larger problem. The posting of this cartoon seems pretty harmless to me as sometimes this type of humor helps diffuse bitterness. And yes, I’m an HR manager and yes, I love Dilbert. Not all of us HR people are evil, but I still enjoy the humor of the cartoon. Lighten up!

]]> By: Cynthia http://www.hrblunders.com/dilbert-tangles-with-first-amendment-when-do-employees-free-speech-rights-cross-the-line/comment-page-1/#comment-691 Cynthia Mon, 23 Jun 2008 18:49:35 +0000 http://www.hrblunders.com/dilbert-tangles-with-first-amendment-when-do-employees-free-speech-rights-cross-the-line/#comment-691 As an HR Manager, I never miss the Dilbert strip each Sunday. You never know if Dilbert may have a fun way to share some insight into our work. The drunken Lemur strip would not be appropriate to post at our worksite and we do regulate the postings that are allowed in common areas to work/benefit related information. If that had happened at our work site, the employee who posted it would be given a verbal warning based on our current policies and a reminder to all employees about proper postings would be communicated at our next All Hands Mtg. When I come in the office and find a Dilbert strip taped to my door, I am glad to know that our employees still have a sense of humor, especially during these economic times. As an HR Manager, I never miss the Dilbert strip each Sunday. You never know if Dilbert may have a fun way to share some insight into our work. The drunken Lemur strip would not be appropriate to post at our worksite and we do regulate the postings that are allowed in common areas to work/benefit related information. If that had happened at our work site, the employee who posted it would be given a verbal warning based on our current policies and a reminder to all employees about proper postings would be communicated at our next All Hands Mtg.

When I come in the office and find a Dilbert strip taped to my door, I am glad to know that our employees still have a sense of humor, especially during these economic times.

]]> By: LNR http://www.hrblunders.com/dilbert-tangles-with-first-amendment-when-do-employees-free-speech-rights-cross-the-line/comment-page-1/#comment-104 LNR Fri, 25 Apr 2008 17:32:34 +0000 http://www.hrblunders.com/dilbert-tangles-with-first-amendment-when-do-employees-free-speech-rights-cross-the-line/#comment-104 Seems to me Catfish may have averted providing Steward his lay-off severence package. Seems to me Catfish may have averted providing Steward his lay-off severence package.

]]> By: Shelly D'Amour http://www.hrblunders.com/dilbert-tangles-with-first-amendment-when-do-employees-free-speech-rights-cross-the-line/comment-page-1/#comment-43 Shelly D'Amour Tue, 15 Apr 2008 21:05:00 +0000 http://www.hrblunders.com/dilbert-tangles-with-first-amendment-when-do-employees-free-speech-rights-cross-the-line/#comment-43 I guess the company proved the employee's point by firing him. I guess the company proved the employee’s point by firing him.

]]> By: Dr. Smoot http://www.hrblunders.com/dilbert-tangles-with-first-amendment-when-do-employees-free-speech-rights-cross-the-line/comment-page-1/#comment-40 Dr. Smoot Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:10:31 +0000 http://www.hrblunders.com/dilbert-tangles-with-first-amendment-when-do-employees-free-speech-rights-cross-the-line/#comment-40 Knowing what I know about this guy in Iowa getting fired, is that, not all the rules in the world apply to the workplace. In short, as a person coming to work, the company is not paying you to be yourself, express yourself, or be whatever is you need to be. The company is paying you to come to the jobsite, actually WORK and in turn they will give you cash and health care, etc. So should Mr. Steward have been fired, knowing what I know....no. But should he be allowed to express his humor.....perhaps. Am I contradicting myself? Not really. It is the responsibility of Mr. Steward to come to work and work while he is there. But it also the responsibility of the Catfish Bend Casino to make Mr. Steward aware of his rights as an employee and what they expect in terms of conduct. If they don't, them shame on them and Mr. Steward is probably better off not working there anyway. In my opinion, this seems silly that the Casino has no room for humor, but if they don't, they should have kindly reminded Mr. Steward that, "We have no sense of humor here and neither do you. So get back to work and don't do it again." In other words, if it's within company policy and it is not heinous, like stabbing a co-worker, a verbal warning would have been suffice. Knowing what I know about this guy in Iowa getting fired, is that, not all the rules in the world apply to the workplace. In short, as a person coming to work, the company is not paying you to be yourself, express yourself, or be whatever is you need to be. The company is paying you to come to the jobsite, actually WORK and in turn they will give you cash and health care, etc. So should Mr. Steward have been fired, knowing what I know….no. But should he be allowed to express his humor…..perhaps.

Am I contradicting myself? Not really. It is the responsibility of Mr. Steward to come to work and work while he is there. But it also the responsibility of the Catfish Bend Casino to make Mr. Steward aware of his rights as an employee and what they expect in terms of conduct. If they don’t, them shame on them and Mr. Steward is probably better off not working there anyway. In my opinion, this seems silly that the Casino has no room for humor, but if they don’t, they should have kindly reminded Mr. Steward that, “We have no sense of humor here and neither do you. So get back to work and don’t do it again.” In other words, if it’s within company policy and it is not heinous, like stabbing a co-worker, a verbal warning would have been suffice.

]]> By: Steven http://www.hrblunders.com/dilbert-tangles-with-first-amendment-when-do-employees-free-speech-rights-cross-the-line/comment-page-1/#comment-39 Steven Mon, 14 Apr 2008 19:23:40 +0000 http://www.hrblunders.com/dilbert-tangles-with-first-amendment-when-do-employees-free-speech-rights-cross-the-line/#comment-39 I was an HR manager at a large casino corporation for 3 years. These people COMPLETELY overreacted. Casinos are businesses but they are also (ideally) a fun place to work. When you suck the humor out of your employees they give less service to the casino guests. This looks like a case of weak, insecure management - by firing this guy all they did was destroy any shred of trust they had left with their employee base. Win the battle - lose the war. Hmmmm I wonder why they were laying people off? Possibly business is off due to poor service? I was an HR manager at a large casino corporation for 3 years. These people COMPLETELY overreacted. Casinos are businesses but they are also (ideally) a fun place to work. When you suck the humor out of your employees they give less service to the casino guests.

This looks like a case of weak, insecure management – by firing this guy all they did was destroy any shred of trust they had left with their employee base.

Win the battle – lose the war. Hmmmm I wonder why they were laying people off? Possibly business is off due to poor service?

]]> By: Pamela http://www.hrblunders.com/dilbert-tangles-with-first-amendment-when-do-employees-free-speech-rights-cross-the-line/comment-page-1/#comment-38 Pamela Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:58:30 +0000 http://www.hrblunders.com/dilbert-tangles-with-first-amendment-when-do-employees-free-speech-rights-cross-the-line/#comment-38 The mgmt at that Casino needs to lighten up. It's a cartoon! Our CEO buys a Dilbert desk calendar for his office every year. I'm a senior manager and subscribe to the Daily Dibert. I have a stack of them that I have printed out and save when I need a good laugh. If I couldn't laugh about the bureaucratic, convoluted work that we do, it would be a sad place to work. After all, we spend most of your waking hours on the job, so why not enjoy silly things that might be happening in our workplace? It was just a cartoon after all, written to make us think and laugh. The mgmt at that Casino needs to lighten up. It’s a cartoon! Our CEO buys a Dilbert desk calendar for his office every year. I’m a senior manager and subscribe to the Daily Dibert. I have a stack of them that I have printed out and save when I need a good laugh. If I couldn’t laugh about the bureaucratic, convoluted work that we do, it would be a sad place to work. After all, we spend most of your waking hours on the job, so why not enjoy silly things that might be happening in our workplace? It was just a cartoon after all, written to make us think and laugh.

]]> By: Al http://www.hrblunders.com/dilbert-tangles-with-first-amendment-when-do-employees-free-speech-rights-cross-the-line/comment-page-1/#comment-37 Al Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:41:25 +0000 http://www.hrblunders.com/dilbert-tangles-with-first-amendment-when-do-employees-free-speech-rights-cross-the-line/#comment-37 Did the employee have permission to post on the company bulletin board? Did the employee have permission to post on the company bulletin board?

]]> By: P. Herman http://www.hrblunders.com/dilbert-tangles-with-first-amendment-when-do-employees-free-speech-rights-cross-the-line/comment-page-1/#comment-36 P. Herman Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:26:50 +0000 http://www.hrblunders.com/dilbert-tangles-with-first-amendment-when-do-employees-free-speech-rights-cross-the-line/#comment-36 Some Dilbert cartoons are very funny and appropriate. That said, the worker showed poor judgment in posting the cartoon about the drunken lemurs on the company bulletin board. In our office, the Office Manager oversees the items posted on the bulletin board. Even though I am the HR/Payroll rep for our office I always ask permission before posting anything on the company bulletin board. No employee has ever been refused permission to post an advertisement or a notice of general interest on the company bulletyin board. I do suspect that our Office manager would urge the employee to think again before posting this cartoon. I do have HR bulletin boards for the required postings of the state and federal government as well as important memos from the Head Office. I handle these boards myself. It might be a good idea for companies to desginate someone as the overseerer of the bulletin board. Some Dilbert cartoons are very funny and appropriate. That said, the worker showed poor judgment in posting the cartoon about the drunken lemurs on the company bulletin board. In our office, the Office Manager oversees the items posted on the bulletin board. Even though I am the HR/Payroll rep for our office I always ask permission before posting anything on the company bulletin board. No employee has ever been refused permission to post an advertisement or a notice of general interest on the company bulletyin board. I do suspect that our Office manager would urge the employee to think again before posting this cartoon.

I do have HR bulletin boards for the required postings of the state and federal government as well as important memos from the Head Office. I handle these boards myself.

It might be a good idea for companies to desginate someone as the overseerer of the bulletin board.

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