• FreeAdvice has a new Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, effective May 25, 2018.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our Terms of Service and use of cookies.

Fired for a joke?

Accident - Bankruptcy - Criminal Law / DUI - Business - Consumer - Employment - Family - Immigration - Real Estate - Tax - Traffic - Wills   Please click a topic or scroll down for more.

CubeMaster

Junior Member
What is the name of your state? California

How do you think a company would handle a situation of one employee making a joke at another's expense that they weren't too happy with? Could the joker be terminated or would it most likely end up as a warning or probation or something?

Basically, someone made a joke about someone else's weight, a third party overheard the joke and told the employee the joke was on. They then complained to HR.

Just curious if this could be cause for termination. Also seeing if, although they could terminate, is it usually more just something to be punished for?

Thanks.
 


cbg

I'm a Northern Girl
COULD it legally lead to termination? Yup, it sure could.

Would a lesser discipline be more appropriate? Not possible to say on the available information. But even if termination would be overkill, it would still be legal.
 

seniorjudge

Senior Member
CubeMaster said:
...Basically, someone made a joke about someone else's weight, a third party overheard the joke and told the employee the joke was on. ....

So you think this kind of stuff is a joke?
 

BelizeBreeze

Senior Member
I would have fired you in front of everyone, had you escorted from the premesis and sent you your crap by snail mail.

THEN, when you tried to file for Unemployment I would tell the examiner how you put the employer in a position of having to defend a Hostile Workplace.

You're a piece of work.
 

Beth3

Senior Member
CubeMaster said:
What is the name of your state? California

How do you think a company would handle a situation of one employee making a joke at another's expense that they weren't too happy with? Could the joker be terminated or would it most likely end up as a warning or probation or something?

Basically, someone made a joke about someone else's weight, a third party overheard the joke and told the employee the joke was on. They then complained to HR.

Just curious if this could be cause for termination. Also seeing if, although they could terminate, is it usually more just something to be punished for?

Thanks.
Cube, without knowing exactly what was said, whether the insensitive lout who made the "joke" has any prior performance or disciplinary issues, and how your employer has handled such situations in the past, it's impossible to say what action they will take. Yes, it could lead to termination. Whether it will is another matter.
 

Find the Right Lawyer for Your Legal Issue!

Fast, Free, and Confidential
data-ad-format="auto">
Top