My first thought was, “I’m so glad I work for myself so I can say what I want.” I came home from holiday shopping and while my husband unwound with some X-Box time, I went to check in on Facebook and saw the first trickle of the response to the article GQ magazine.
That was my initial reaction as I read the Duck Dynasty story as it first broke late on Wednesday night. Thinking that just because you’re self-employed means you can’t be fired brings about a false sense of security.
You can still be fired – by your clients.
By the next morning, news was out that Phil was put on indefinite hiatus by A&E, and half the internet seemed to be in a uproar about his rights under Freedom of Speech, and the other half was either ambivalent or felt that A&E made the right move.
Personally? I’ve never seen the show, so I couldn’t speak on the issue. I could speak about the Freedom of Speech issue though — because Freedom of Speech does NOT mean freedom from consequence. It simply means that the government or the police can not come after you for what you said. If your employer or your client isn’t happy with it, they can choose not to work with you.
Then it happened again.
Just over 24 hours later, Justine Sacco made a rather crass post to Twitter, and then boarded a plane to Africa. The same continent she just slammed in her tweet. Probably smart to get out of London, after saying things about them too. By the time she landed after her wi-fi free flight 13 hours later, she too had been fired from her job. She was a trending hashtag on Twitter. People were sending her death threats.
I didn’t see anyone defending her right to Freedom of Speech though. Probably because what she said was pretty horrific.
It was fascinating to watch these two events go down in such a short span of time. The lesson I was reminded of is that the internet never forgets. You can delete a tweet, but you can’t control who has seen it or copied it already. What you say can and will live on. While many of us are self-employed, we are still employed – BY OUR CLIENTS.
“Type up a Facebook status update — and it can be radioactive forever. Don’t be fooled by your keyboard: the Internet doesn’t have a delete button. Screenshots can make your words have a half life of eternity. Social media is exactly that — social. It impacts you socially for as long as you are a member of society.
One tweet can be the last tick in the bomb that detonates your life.” — from Dear Kids: What You Need to Know About Duck Dynasty, Justine Sacco, and Christmas, the post that inspired me to write this post.
We might not make a late night joke on Twitter or Facebook and then find ourselves fired the next day. What you say might be seen by a potential client on social media, or a friend of a potential client. Or a friend of a friend. Doesn’t matter. It is seen by others, and it can hurt you. It can keep you from getting more clients.
Private is not private when it comes to the Internet.
Do not fall in to the trap of thinking that your Twitter stream or Facebook wall is set to private and only your closest friends see it. Or that you’re posting it in a private Facebook group, so your clients will never know. People can easily capture an image of the screen or copy/paste the text. You do not know who is in that group, who may be watching.
I see it constantly. People complaining about clients in the groups that I’m in. STOP. Your peers are judging you for it, and one of them could choose to leak it. I’ve had people who live in other cities ask me for recommendations of people to work with. If you’re constantly complaining in a private group about how much you hate your clients, how crazy they are, how they frustrate you, do you think I will recommend you? The answer to that is a loud & resounding NO.
You never know who sees what you are saying online.
Back when I was in high school, I passed notes in class with my friends. I wrote something in a note once about a friend who I was angry with at the time, and another friend showed it to her, causing quite a shitstorm for me. My mom said that if I didn’t want something to get back to someone, never write it down.
The same still applies these days. Only now? The internet has a permanent quality that note passing in 10th grade never had. Something can come back to haunt you, even years later. Think about what you write down online. What you say to other people. You are your brand at ALL times, and what you say matters to your clients, who are ultimately your employers. With social media what you say can spiral far out of your control. Just ask Justine Sacco about that this morning.
Screen cap from my iPhone last night, before Justine Sacco’s Twitter Account was deleted.
36 replies on “Self-Employed? You Can Be Fired for What You Say Publicly”
uh-oh. (thankfully my clients are comedians)
Yep. AND be careful what you even reply to other peoples threads in FB. That can also be read. It’s not just your own TL.
We all have stressful days. Hell, I’ve had a stressful month. (Warning: that may mean more XBox detox time over the holiday. 😀 ) And while venting helps destress, there are ways to do it right. Usually real-time, whether in person, over the phone, or instant messaging, or texting, or whatever. Not in a medium with any permanence.
Also, I get having a bad client or two and swapping war stories. If you’re constantly complaining about your clients? Time to check whether you’re in the right field or not.
Absolutely! Lots of brands follow me and I have to try very hard not to vent/rant/drop f bombs when I get mad because I may work for myself but its not me who pays me.
I feel like it’s harder when self employed. Not only are your words representing your business but yourself!
Laura Corley Burlton, I completely agree! I’ve seen photographers banned from venues for things that were copied and sent along! Also, ranting about clients online? If I see that, I would never refer that photographer to my friends. Just crazypants.
Emily Lovell Piper it just means being even more intentional in what you say and what you put out there. “Does this truly reflect me?” is the measure I use most often.
Exactly. There are plenty of times I hesitate before posting. On my personal and business pages. Just because we have these social media platforms to “rant” on doesn’t mean that it’s necessary. I know I’m judging businesses by how they convey themselves. And when they start making bolt fb announcements or rants, I’m out.
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Christine you know I just call you when I need to rant LOL
great post, thank you for always sharing such excellent, thought provoking and informative information!
Absolutely agree.
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Laura Corley Burlton, the smartest thing to do! And call me ANY time! 😀
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That being said, there are certain clients I don’t want specifically because I would be compromising my personal values or beliefs. And if what I say and post keeps those clients away, that’s a bonus. I’ve also gained a client because of my “this is how I am, if you don’t like it, I don’t care” attitude. I don’t really want to work for people I feel like I have to walk on eggshells around all the time because I might accidentally offend them. I think people need to suck it up and not get butt hurt over the littlest things. Part of being a mature adult is accepting that not everyone thinks, acts and believes the same way you do.
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Brittany I totally agree! You can’t compromise who you are. What I’m more referring to is the general unprofessional ism. Such as FB posts about a bad client, on their business page. That kind of thing.
Brittany Danjean Bosse SO TRUE!!! I’ve had people hire me for being authentically me — and I think that is the best thing you can do for your business and for yourself. Especially if you want to be happy in life.
So many people get lured in to a false sense of security online, a sense of privacy, and say things that later they regret saying. If you wouldn’t say it to your mama or your client, you might not want to type it online. 😉
That’s pretty much what I said on your similar post in the photography group. I don’t say anything on here that I’m not willing to say to someone’s face. (which honestly doesn’t allow for a whole lot of censoring either)
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Really smart post. Sharing!
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RT @christinebpc: At first I thought I was glad that I’m my own boss, but I too can be fired for what I say publicly. http://t.co/KeK8O8ITtb
RT @christinebpc: At first I thought I was glad that I’m my own boss, but I too can be fired for what I say publicly. http://t.co/KeK8O8ITtb