Judge sides with man fired for posting 'Dilbert' comic in office

[ranmaniac]

Originally posted by: angminas

Originally posted by: Throckmorton

You are pathetic. For your whole life you will be treated poorly by management, then you will die a pathetic man, and you'll probably feel good about it because on some level you believe you were born to be a slave to others.

You're completely wrong about me. You were even warned by my sig that you can't read my mind. Toss in insulting me simply because you disagree with me? F-

A lot of folks are missing the point. What NET OVERALL good did posting the comic do? People got pissed and someone got fired. Do you think the man's friends were still laughing when they saw him get canned? Do you think management was reformed and the workplace made better? Do you think misunderstandings were clarified and strong new working relationships were formed? How do you think his family felt? That Dilbert strip is very true and some would find it funny, but making wise communication choices isn't just about whether something is true or funny or convenient. I don't see how posting a comic is some kind of laudable progressive heroic act, especially in a company where this firing could be reasonably predicted to happen.

This doesn't mean management is always right, or anywhere near it (and I find it very sad that I have to specifically clarify that in a forum filled with intelligent people), but it does mean that when your car won't start, you don't fix it with a baseball bat. You go in there and get your hands dirty. We would look at baseball bat man with scorn as he tries to fix his problem with attacking and negativity...why is it so ultra cool to post a nasty comic? As if it did any more good or took any more guts than the bat thing.

For reference, Dilbert is one of my favorite comics. That particular one is nastier than most. When it's used as a weapon, it becomes very personal and hateful, and it's sure as heck not like it makes things better. Surely we can do better than that! If not, we are just as bad as the management who inspired the comic in the first place.

Well, the company really failed, cause it's become a national story, and I hope future employers around the nation take note and don't hire those idiot managers.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: MmmSkyscraper

Originally posted by: rh71
Not even close. I'm sure if you were in any kind of position of authority, you'd love for your grunts to gather up, point, and laugh - and for all to see. Not acceptable. He should be reprimanded (although not necessarily in this way) in some form. Just saying "learn to take a joke" after the fact is not an excuse. For that, all I could say is learn professionalism.

When I had grunts, we took the piss out of each other royally. I'd probably have been the first to put a Dilbert cartoon up on the wall. Damn, I had a Dilbert desk calendar which I'd pass around each day.

That company were looking for an excuse to can people and they fucked up. Don't have a notice board if you don't want the staff putting stuff on it. I bet it got loads of use otherwise, displaying all the legal BS they have to display and nothing else.

There's always "managers" who were cool with their employees. They would make it obvious that they want a relaxed environment. There's issues that come along with that but this isn't the topic for it. Don't tell me there are no other types of managers though. This guy used poor judgment... which is what I said from the start. What's more is that it was aimed at multiple people, not just a guy that you could "mess around" with.

 

[MmmSkyscraper]

Originally posted by: rh71
There's always "managers" who were cool with their employees. They would make it obvious that they want a relaxed environment. There's issues that come along with that but this isn't the topic for it. Don't tell me there are no other types of managers though. This guy used poor judgment... which is what I said from the start. What's more is that it was aimed at multiple people, not just a guy that you could "mess around" with.

Ok, there are managers that are uptight and complete assholes. I think they already made that point themselves though, especially now they look like a bunch of dicks for trying to sack the guy. GG team!

 

[LikeLinus]

Originally posted by: angminas

Originally posted by: Throckmorton

You are pathetic. For your whole life you will be treated poorly by management, then you will die a pathetic man, and you'll probably feel good about it because on some level you believe you were born to be a slave to others.

You're completely right about me.

A lot of folks are missing the point. What NET OVERALL good did posting the comic do? People got pissed and someone got fired. Do you think the man's friends were still laughing when they saw him get canned? Do you think management was reformed and the workplace made better? Do you think misunderstandings were clarified and strong new working relationships were formed? How do you think his family felt? That Dilbert strip is very true and some would find it funny, but making wise communication choices isn't just about whether something is true or funny or convenient. I don't see how posting a comic is some kind of laudable progressive heroic act, especially in a company where this firing could be reasonably predicted to happen.

You didn't bother taking the time to reply to my post, no surprise there.

You also didn't even bother to read the article:

"According to state records, Steward posted the comic in late October, shortly after officials announced the casino in Burlington would be closed."

Do you REALLY believe that management's main concern in this matter was upholding "strong new working relationships".

The company was laying everyone off and closing the casino. Their main objective was to fire the person in question and the fight the unemployment wages because unemployment taxes are collected from an employer based upon the gross wage paid to all employees of the firm. The cost to your employer is reflected each year when the amount of unemployment collected by employees of that firm is tallied up.

In the long run it was going to cost them more money to be held accountable for his unemployment cost than it is to simply fire him and create a reason for him to NOT get unemployment.

Please for the love of God tell me you're not that naive.

So the company is ultimately going to be laying off everyone, closing the doors of that particular casino, firing people for no good reason and fighting his unemployment wages.

I'm so wrong. Sounds like the NET OVERALL good it did the company was the great exposure and sense of security it's brought to its shareholders/stakeholders and current employees.

Noted that the Judge sided with the employee, but I guess he doesn't have a clue either!

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: LikeLinus

So the company is ultimately going to be laying off everyone, closing the doors of that particular casino, firing people for no good reason and fighting his unemployment wages.

I'm so wrong. Sounds like the NET OVERALL good it did the company was the great exposure and sense of security it's brought to its shareholders/stakeholders and current employees.

Noted that the Judge sided with the employee, but I guess he doesn't have a clue either!

I can't believe a casino went belly up. What's the deal there?

 

[angminas]

I never said the management did the right thing. Both sides were wrong, as is usually the case with anything you see in the news.

A whole lot of judges have no clue. I assign little extra weight to his opinion just because he's a judge.

I thought I'd written enough. Replying to each and every quote and post bit by bit is amateurish and unfruitful, so I don't do it. Sorry if LikeLinus felt slighted- I have to draw the line somewhere.

If the dude knows the casino is closing and he mouths off, he's absolutely begging to be fired without benefits, not to mention the hit to his resume and references. As I said, foolish. Once again, this is NOT a defense of the management. It's pretty lame that I have to spell that out clearly to avoid having people put words in my mouth, by the way, as is the "change someone's quote to try to make him look retarded" trick.

I stand by my post. We can do better than this, on both sides of the issue.

 

[SirStev0]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Dilbert comic strips have been a staple of office humor for as long as Scott Adams has been writing that strip.

Edit-Anyone who can't see the humor must have pointy hair.

If every person with a dilbert cartoon in there office was fired philosophy major might actually have job opportunities outside of starbucks.

 

[Cogman]

I think the company was looking for an excuse to take away his unemployment benefits, plain and simple. They where closing down anyways, so if there is an excuse to pay less to your employees you take it.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: MmmSkyscraper

Originally posted by: rh71
There's always "managers" who were cool with their employees. They would make it obvious that they want a relaxed environment. There's issues that come along with that but this isn't the topic for it. Don't tell me there are no other types of managers though. This guy used poor judgment... which is what I said from the start. What's more is that it was aimed at multiple people, not just a guy that you could "mess around" with.

Ok, there are managers that are uptight and complete assholes. I think they already made that point themselves though, especially now they look like a bunch of dicks for trying to sack the guy. GG team!

How about people who command / deserve respect at the workplace? You know, where professionalism and business come first? But no... if that's the case then they're just uptight assholes. It should be completely acceptable to make fun of an entire management team with your peers in their place of business. And it's completely unheard of for someone to be fired for being unprofessional... no, you've never heard of that.

 

[AlienCraft]

Originally posted by: MmmSkyscraper

Originally posted by: Number1
I would have fired him.
It is my experience that people who have attitude cartoons posted in or around their workplace usualy mean what the cartoon says.
You want to make fun of your bosses, fine, just don't expect them to treat you nicely.

You fail at management.

qft
But I'll bet you would create an "incident"with which to justify your firing also.

That "get over yourself"comment is also appropriate.

 

[razor2025]

Originally posted by: rh71


How about people who command / deserve respect at the workplace? You know, where professionalism and business come first? But no... if that's the case then they're just uptight assholes. It should be completely acceptable to make fun of an entire management team with your peers in their place of business. And it's completely unheard of for someone to be fired for being unprofessional... no, you've never heard of that.

Professionalism is 2 way street. Respect is EARNED. Business comes first, but that doesn't mean there's no room to be HUMAN. Christ, are you a robotic slave?

Originally posted by: rh71

criticism != butt of a joke

It's only a joke if the Casino wasn't going to be SHUT DOWN. Criticism doesn't only appear in form of a written formal report in real world.

 

[MmmSkyscraper]

Originally posted by: razor2025

Originally posted by: rh71


How about people who command / deserve respect at the workplace? You know, where professionalism and business come first? But no... if that's the case then they're just uptight assholes. It should be completely acceptable to make fun of an entire management team with your peers in their place of business. And it's completely unheard of for someone to be fired for being unprofessional... no, you've never heard of that.

Professionalism is 2 way street. Respect is EARNED. Business comes first, but that doesn't mean there's no room to be HUMAN. Christ, are you a robotic slave?

:thumbsup:

I don't need to say anything else.

 

[TallBill]

Its a comic strip. Some people need to get over themselves.

 

[Xavier434]

Originally posted by: MmmSkyscraper

Originally posted by: razor2025

Originally posted by: rh71


How about people who command / deserve respect at the workplace? You know, where professionalism and business come first? But no... if that's the case then they're just uptight assholes. It should be completely acceptable to make fun of an entire management team with your peers in their place of business. And it's completely unheard of for someone to be fired for being unprofessional... no, you've never heard of that.

Professionalism is 2 way street. Respect is EARNED. Business comes first, but that doesn't mean there's no room to be HUMAN. Christ, are you a robotic slave?

:thumbsup:

I don't need to say anything else.

That is very true. All of the best professional businessmen who are respected understand this fact. Many will claim that it is just as important to understand how to be this way as it is to have a solid business plan in the first place. Having a team of employees who respect you for respecting them is one the greatest assets you can have in a business. It increases quality, productivity, and it generally just makes life at work much better. You can't get much more professional than that.

 

[Number1]

Originally posted by: AlienCraft

Originally posted by: MmmSkyscraper

Originally posted by: Number1
I would have fired him.
It is my experience that people who have attitude cartoons posted in or around their workplace usualy mean what the cartoon says.
You want to make fun of your bosses, fine, just don't expect them to treat you nicely.

You fail at management.

qft
But I'll bet you would create an "incident"with which to justify your firing also.

That "get over yourself"comment is also appropriate.

Well firing over something like this would be rather harch but the employee woul be told to get rib of it and not do it again.

 

[kalipoo2000]

the corp I work for is just like the dilbert 'toons.

 

[Saint Nick]

People just need to stop being little bitches... really.

 

[Chadder007]

Originally posted by: razor2025

Originally posted by: angminas
You really think putting cartoons on the bulletin board is the way to enlightenment? I wonder if you've ever been in management. That strip is caustic even by Dilbert standards. It's a slap in the face and insubordinate, not to mention a misuse of company resources (the bulletin board is not meant for that purpose). It does nothing to improve the company- it only destabilizes. Publicly posting a hateful comic strip at work to improve management practices is like trying to smother a bonfire with kerosene. The best thing you can say about it is that it's utterly foolish and misses the point. Dilbert comics are meant to be enjoyed in privacy.

For reference, I am treated very poorly by my management. That doesn't mean being rude would make me some kind of folk hero.

People like you are the reason why office work is such a sh*t job. Companies are made of PEOPLE not drones. The casino managers were definitely in the wrong here. What they should've done was to ignore the comic entirely. Employee morale is already low by the casino closing announcement, why make it sink even lower by whining about a simple comic? A sensible manager would at least ignore the comic. A better manager would use the comic as opportunity to communicate with employees.

Disputing the fired guy's unemployment benefit is even more despicable.

Agreed. Managements choosing of cutting the unemployment was just a$$holery.

 

[her209]

If I were the casino managers, I'd take it one step further and sue Scott Adams.





/sarcasm

 

[Kelemvor]

Wow. Common sense prevailed in the US Justice System? I can't remember the last time that happened.