When Opinions Clash - Free Speech Vs Institutional Loyal

Source

They say when in Rome, you behave like the Romans. This is a popular saying in my part of the world which advices one to behave in accordance of wherever it is that they find themselves especially to avoid getting in trouble.

Prior to this, some weeks ago on one of the hive learners prompt, we talked about ethics, morals and I think Laws. From that prompt, we explored how each organization and every society at large have laid down rules which govern human activities because let's face it, the world will be chaotic if there are no penalty for certain actions.

While I do understand that we have certain rights as human beings, it is also worth noting that these rights becomes limited once it's made public. Basically in the grand scheme of things, one's right ends where another person's own begins.

With this brief intro of mine, let us delve into the current hive learners prompt.

SOCIAL MEDIA CALL-OUT

Should our opinions and ideas shared on social media be enough reason for dismissal? It could be dismissal from a job or a school for students. If the opinions are well within the rights of the person who owns them without infringing on the rights of others, do institutions hold the right to take action if such opinion don't tally with their values and policies?

---

The question raised for this prompt is not only interesting but also engaging.... The thing is every organisation has an image to protect. I personally
won't want to have a company and employ someone who is always trending online for the wrong reasons.

I also would not want an employee whose loyalty is questionable because speaking publicly in support of things that goes against the laid down policies of an organisation, is likeable to being against the structure of that organization.

So yes, one's opinions and ideas shared publicly especially when they are insensitive and antagonizing, is enough reason for dismissal. As an extremist, I mostly subscribe to either ways of a situation as there are seldomly no rooms for inbetweens.

Thus, if one must go to social media to speak ill of a company or an organization by calling them out, especially regarding it's policies, maybe that's the person’s cue to leave.

Specifically, it doesn't really make sense to me that one would complain or rant bitterly concerning a situation and still remain afterwards. From experience, an organization will most likely not bend its rules or policies to suit an individual's need. Instead, it is expected that the individual ought to learn to adjust to the organizational standards.

But, what if these standards/policies becomes a threat to the employee's or individual's capacity? Should they be dismissed for addressing the issues in the court of social media via call outs?

Well, this question brings us to my experience in a previous job. I had a supervisor who would rather save money at the expense of the job and this really affected the level of my productivity. In order to resolve the situation with my supervisor, it was
me exhausting every solution that I could think off .

In fact I was still striving with the diplomatic approach that I had settled for when my patience ran thin one afternoon and I spoke harshly to my supervisor out of frustration. Thinking I was doing the right thing, I felt fulfilled and expected some changes afterwards. But instead all I got was a query and a deduction in that months salary for insubordination.

After I had recovered from that bitter experience, I just tendered my resignation letter because I wouldn't want their next action to result in a sack. But then, I had so much anger in me that I needed to vent so I took it to my WhatsApp status and talked about all the times my supervisor expected me to be Houdini and deliver parcels with lesser than the amount required.

As I vented and posted on my status, the Senior Admin officer was actively reading and keeping tabs. Tabs he used to punish me by reporting me to the management and my financial dues upon resignation were seized.

It was such a bitter experience for me but I learned to briddle my tongue and act accordingly because there's no fighting against what you've already consented to when signing the employment letter.

You see these employers are smart and would always protect their interest. Like someone said to me one time, the law doesn't deal with emotions. Was I wrongly treated? I would say yes, but then sentiment aside, I'd say no because I was binded by contractual agreements that I went against even when it's for the right reasons.