| He's an adult, and an experienced professional, and had been working in the job for a while. Compare his situation with that of Paris Brown. She's 17, employed as a Youth Consultant. Tweets she had written before she got that job, when she was just 14 (maybe 15) were found, and thus there was a pile on calling for her to lose her job. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-22070354) Some people supported her. Others didn't. She left her job. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22085693) Her tweets were really offensive; but kids are stupid and it's a shame we can't let children make mistakes (and then learn from them). I guess people are going to be more careful with their interview process from now on. EDIT: in general I tend to see anything that someone writes as their personal opinion, separate from their employer's position, unless it's a statement from the company on headed paper (or an official account); or unless the person has said "this is what the company says". It's weird to me to link someone's views to their company. |
This is actually important in this case. (BTW I do not work for Apple, never have).
Lets say Apple has a new Mac Pro coming out. I tweet the following
Mhurron: The new Mac Pro performs like shit.
No one thinks anything of it really. However if the following happens:
Mhurron(Product Development Apple): The new Mac Pro performs like shit.
Apple has a problem (which is quickly going to become mine) and what I just said looks like more then just some crazy guys ramblings. This is what happened here. This guy clearly listed his position at Microsoft then proceeded to comment and argue with people over a product he had direct knowledge of. That looks like more then just arguing about personal preference.
I too hate the idea that someone could take my opinions as official position of the company I work for, but at the same time I don't go out of my way to brand myself as working for that company either.