Can I be fired from my job for cussing while not on the clock?

Question

I was on my day off and I show up to my job at a fast food restraunt. While there I let slip a "cuss" word. My manager heard me and threatened immediate termination because of it. I was wondering if they could legally fire me, or would it be considered wrongful termination?

Thanks for the information, I appreciate it, although a few of you should have saved your breaths with your goodie-to-shoe attitudes against cussing and how I act. Personally I see nothing wrong with most cuss words. For gods sake even saying the name of sex organs is considered cussing these days, its ridiculous.

Answer 1

i don't know how legal it is, but i do understand that even "off the clock" it is your responsibility to maintain a proffessional reflection of your company. If you do not keep a good reputaion in public and within your community, that is reflected on your employer. i worked with someone who got arrested on drug charges. Our employer asked him to take time off until he was found not guilty in courtt. (his car and description matched someone else). This is a huge company that did this, so i know that they would have followed proper laws. They decided his conduct outside of work reflected poorly on them and they were prepared to terminate him. as much as this example is extreme, i think even if you are off the clock, to cuss in your place of employment reflects poorly on them and would violate your code of conduct. just as a customer who continued to offend others with cussing, could be asked to leave, you could also be considered to be offending people. i believe if you do something that reflects poorly on your employer even outside of work, they do have a right to terminate you, within reason.

Answer 2

I just heard on the radio the other day that it's actually a good stress-reliever and good for morale to occasionally cuss, but it's not recommended that you do it anywhere customers can hear, or anyone that might be offended.

Some people are just anil, but yes I think they could fire because they dont like with your character.

Answer 3

Yes they can. Just because you are not on the clock doesn't mean the rules of the workplace turn into a free-for-all.

Ask yourself this...if you got into a fight with a customer while "off the clock" , do you think you would be able to keep your job?

Same thing...you are still at work when you are physically in the building.

It is not wrongful termination or illegal to fire someone with a potty mouth.

Answer 4

On the clock or not they could terminate you for that. You may be making the workplace unpleasant for others including coworkers.
Try not to cuss at all ever so it doesn't slip out.

Answer 5

If you work for a company, and are on the premises, you are considered to be representing the company, even if you are not officially on the job. Your Manager had every right to reprimand you; as you were making a bad impression on your customers as well as other staff members. Learn to watch your tongue. You are fortunate that your manager didn't fire you.

Answer 6

It's not wrongful termination, and yes you could be fired even if it hadn't been on company property, which it was.

If you're in the US, they don't even need to give a reason for firing you. And wrongful termination is narrowly limited, and is being fired for things like your gender or race.

Answer 7

Way to start conflict at work. This is why it is important to separate work and personal life from each other. Think of separation of church and state and why it is important.

Answer 8

Depends on the state you work in. But if they did you would have a really good case at the unemployment office.

Answer 9

Could you provide some more details? Such as what place, where you cussed, etc?

Answer 10

its behavior unbecoming in a place of business. they could fire you. you can fire anyone for any reason. theres no rules on that. whoever owns the business has the right to do whatever they want with it.