Conduct an Internet search and research at least three instances in which employers disciplined (or fired) employees (who were not at work during the time of posting) for an inappropriate social media posting. Briefly discuss the three instances and explain why the employer fired or punished the employee and how the social media post was inappropriate.

Steven Johnson was an intern at a bank. He sent an email to his boss requesting leave because of an urgent matter. His boss granted him leave. However, on the same day a photo of him at a party turned up on a social media website. Colleagues he had friended on this site saw the incriminating photo. His employers discovered the lie, and fired Steven.

Incident 2: Waitress badmouths customer on social media site for a measly tip and gets fired.

Sara Williams, a waitress, complained on a social media site after receiving a very small tip from a customer. She mentioned the restaurant’s name in her post. She also called the customer offensive names. The company came to know of this, even though Sara had her profile set to “private.” The company fired Sara for breach of contract. Prior to being hired, she had signed a social media contract that prohibited her from talking about work on social networking sites and from insulting customers.

Incident 3: Toronto firefighters fired for offensive posts.

Toronto Fire Services fired two Toronto firefighters for posting offensive comments in two social media sites. Toronto Fire Services fired them because their actions had violated the department’s social media policy. Toronto Fire Services said that the employees’ messages had shaken the trust the public had in the fire services.