Could you be fired for misconduct outside of work?

Question

I f you are at a bar drinking with some co-workers and joking around is taking place that may offend someone in the group, could that person make a complaint at the job and have you terminated?

what if the person making the complaint did not witness the behavior in question?

Answer 1

AS others have stated it depends in part on your job & whether you signed an agreement of some type. It also depends on what type of comments you made. A few off color jokes or something which might be seen as threatening or revealing illegal conduct.

Regardless, it could affect your ability to get raises or even cause your termination for something totally unrelated if the boss decides to "get you"

Be careful who you party with, especially co workers who might benefit from making you look undesirable to the company.

Answer 2

No, I don't think that would be right. After all, that person who made the complaint didn't need to go drinking with you if they are so sensitive and unaware of what some people do and say while intoxicated. Additionally, most people who go to bars to drink are aware that someone there is likely to offend someone else--in most cases, it is just the booze talking.

This should have nothing to do with your job--it was socializing after work--a voluntary act. The offended person should keep his or her social life out of the work place. Work is work--play is play--keep them separate.

Answer 3

In some cases, Yes. Some employers have you sign an Ethics form when you are hired. They expect you to be respectable, because bad actions, if known to the public, can reflect badly on the, But if you didn't sign this type of agreement, you shouldn't have a problem.

Answer 4

Id like to say no, but the reality is that yes, you probably can get fired for something outside work. For example, look at teachers. They are expected to uphold a certain image for their students. If a teacher is "caught" doing something "immoral" or "offensive" then they can get fired, even though it has no bearing on their jobs.

Answer 5

It depends on your job and what you did on your own.

Example: You work at a church, and are a hooker at night.

From what you said, it still depends on where you work.. Nothing is written in concrete unless you have a contract. A employer can and have walked in and terminated employees just because they felt like it!

Answer 6

Not outright fired, per se, but I'd say your chances of advancing in the company just hit rock bottom.

It's never a good idea to socialize with co-workers.

Answer 7

I could imagine some situations where termination would be justified. Extreme circumstances like maybe a threat or some heavy, angry cussing, or something seriously obscene.

Answer 8

I doubt it most jobs dont care what you do away from work as long as it doesnt concern them, but some government jobs monitor behavior out of the workplace. i wouldnt worry. you have your own opinions of different things and noone can hold that against ya.

Answer 9

Unless it is spelled out in your employment contract, usually not. High profile positions due sometimes have conduct clauses (Pee-Wee Herman a.k.a. Paul Reubens comes to mind), but in general, no.

-Dio

Answer 10

Yes, nowadays companies have you sign codes of conduct. Many of these can be very intrusive, going as far as smoking in your own home. The moral is always read what you sign.