Should a person be fired if...

[the411]

...he/she is caught having sex at work?

Note: It could be either that the employee is caught live in the act or through some other evidence like a video tape.

This question was on a radio station yesterday, and it generated a great deal of debate. What is your response and why?

Personally, I say "NO" for the FIRST offense, UNLESS the act brought about a public embarrassment for the office/company/organization, or if it caused some sort of health/safety risk or hazard (i.e. having sex where there's food or where people eat, etc.). But I suppose there is plethora of exceptions. Please share...

And I'm Out...



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Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Pi Kappa, SP97
#3 of QUINTESSENCE

[The Original Ape]

Originally posted by the411:
...he/she is caught having sex at work?

Note: It could be either that the employee is caught live in the act or through some other evidence like a video tape.

This question was on a radio station yesterday, and it generated a great deal of debate. What is your response and why?

Personally, I say "NO" for the FIRST offense, UNLESS the act brought about a public embarrassment for the office/company/organization, or if it caused some sort of health/safety risk or hazard (i.e. having sex where there's food or where people eat, etc.). But I suppose there is plethora of exceptions. Please share...

And I'm Out...

I agree with you, 411.

I would have to say yes. To me, it falls in the same boat as people getting fired for being on the phone too much, too many visitors, or being on the internet too much. I understand there is a thrill or rush of maybe getting caught, but try to control yourself or get a room on your lunch break. You get paid to work, not for extracurricular activities. (If I can't get none, you can't either! )

I would be afraid the tape would end up on one those "Caught on Camera" shows. I could never live that down.

[the411]

Yes, but I even think it's unfair to fire a person for being with friends or on the phone or Internet too much without a warning, don't you? Of course, I know that as adults we do know right from wrong from the very beginning. But, I guess my question is really as it relates to a person being caught for the FIRST time. Should they still be fired? What if they have a private office and it happens in there?

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Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Pi Kappa, SP97
#3 of QUINTESSENCE

[Eclipse]

I say fire them the first time. What kind of judgement do you have to have sex at work in a place where you could get caught? I'm sorry, but I'd have to worry about someone that can't hold it together for a few minutes and a) run to the fast food resturant down the street and lock the bathroom door or b) make sure your office door was locked and you/the other person was reeeeealllll quiet! LOL

[This message has been edited by Eclipse (edited April 02, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by Eclipse (edited April 03, 2001).]

[korkscru]

This was a good scenerio. LOL. I guess my answer is that it all depends. Yes, having sex while at work is a very serious offense. Other things would haveto be taken into consideration such as: 1). the quality of that person's work performance, 2). if this person is an asset to the company or are they expendible, 3). whether they were actually caught in the act right then or not, and 4). have they ever been reprimended before (for ANYTHING). The nature of the company would also play in this because I wouldn't want employees having sex in a restaraunt where exposure to things like germs and diseases is kinda high.
I don't know!!! The truth is if an employee were actually fired for having sex on the job---ANY JOB---- I would certainly understand. It goes against ALL codes of ethics and, of course, many universal percaution standards. But if I were in a position where I had to decide the outcome, I would probably end up firing this person too----even if this person was an excellent worker.

I think that both people should be suspended this time and fired if they are caught again. If they want to have sex they should go home or get a room. There is a time and place for everything and one's place of employment is not the place for sex. I can understand wanting to be adventerous and everything but hey if they get caught they must also suffer the consequences.

I've thought about my previous post. And sex and being on the phone too much, etc. are not in the same boat. Yes, you should be warned about the phone and visitors, but sex? I mean that's on another level to me. Private office? hmmmm... but the copy room or where the entire office has access, I don't think so. I agree with RealityBlack, if you want to risk it, you must suffer the consequences. (I just hope it was some good ____!)

[This message has been edited by c&c1913 (edited April 02, 2001).]

[MaMaBuddha]

although i am very liberal in my attitude, i would have to say fire them...i once worked at a job that monitered the websites you visited and caught one of the guys looking at a pornography website. my computer would alert me when anyone was looking at pornographic site and would later scan the temporary folders of the computer to see the sites the visited. the department i worked in also repreimanded those that looked at websites that did not deal with the work.

for the future reference for those the surf the web..

-go to the c drive and the folder windows and delete the cookies and any temporary files.

-also go the start key, under settings, the control panel, and click on internet options and clear the history...delete temp files again...(they don;t always delete the first time) then underneath temp files click settings and view files again...once you are viewing them go to edit and select all and then erase them.

this is info they can be useful so everybody take heed, i can go to your computer and see where you have been.


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MaMaBuddha

Devastating
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_________________________

Imaginer un métro rempli avec les anges tombés...

[CrimsonTide4]

Thanks MamaBuddha on that 2nd step for temporary internet files. I needed that for my own personal computer. Our school system recently implemented a filtering system primarily because we had teachers, subs, custodians, and students going to porn sites.

LAwd, no sex at work!! There are, however, plenty of students having sex in the stairwells and giving or receiving sexual favors at school and on the school bus.

I think that they should be fired!
This is not an excusable offence.

If I were an employer, I would try to think of how this could affect the work environment later on down the line, and if it would create an uncomfortable environment for my employees. As adults, we need to make wise decisions and doing it on the job ain't smart!!

You have to think about whats important...and since they (the acting parties) decided that getting off was more important than getting the job done, then they become expendable. Thus, firm disciplinary action should be taken.

[meeks]

Originally posted by MaMaBuddha:

for the future reference for those the surf the web..

-go to the c drive and the folder windows and delete the cookies and any temporary files.

-also go the start key, under settings, the control panel, and click on internet options and clear the history...delete temp files again...(they don;t always delete the first time) then underneath temp files click settings and view files again...once you are viewing them go to edit and select all and then erase them.

this is info they can be useful so everybody take heed, i can go to your computer and see where you have been.

Thanks for the info. even though this is is my own laptop and no one has ANY business on it but me, uh except for maybe my momma cause she bought it i am always looking for ways to do alittle housekeeping!



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The truly educated never graduate!

[Salience]

Fire them! If they get caught, oh well. They're not being productive employees, anyway, and who wants to smell sex in your OFFICE???
Nassssssty

[the411]

I don't remember what magazine it was, but I read somewhere that women are more likely to get fired for having sex in the workplace. I can't remember the figures, but the article indicated that, in actual cases of known offenses, a huge percent of women were immediately terminated, while most of the men were just given a slap on the wrist (and undoubtedly praised later on at the gym for their adventure). Also, the higher up the totem pole a person is, the less likely they are to be terminated.

I am all for adventure--BELIEVE ME! For some people it isn't easy to wait when the feeling has hit you! Besides, TV and movies hype such behavior up to be highly erotic-- aren't most of us turned on by the forbidden, daring, thrill of doing something we shouldn't? But, the action is WRONG, nonetheless, and should not be excused. Still, we are all human and prone to weaknesses and mistakes. An extreme measure like termination? I'm not so sure. If a person is an excellent worker and a huge asset, I'm inclined to say that they should be suspended or placed on probation as opposed to being fired. But, like I said, there is SO much to consider (and things are always different when we're at the judges' table). What if they are a teacher who should be setting an example? What if they are married and are caught with someone who isn't their spouse?

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Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Pi Kappa, SP97
#3 of QUINTESSENCE

[This message has been edited by the411 (edited April 03, 2001).]

[mccoyred]

LOL!!

Tru 'dat, tru 'dat!

Originally posted by Salience:
Fire them! If they get caught, oh well. They're not being productive employees, anyway, and who wants to smell sex in your OFFICE???
Nassssssty

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MCCOYRED
Mu Psi '86
BaltCo Alumnae

Dynamic...Salient...Temperate...Since 1913