General Discussion

Jim Lane

(11,175 posts)

78. It's not that clear-cut.

Thu Sep 25, 2014, 12:22 AM

Sep 2014

He certainly had more of a role in the decision than did Marriott's employee. It wasn't entirely his doing, though. Mozilla issued a statement, emphasizing the company's support for equality (obviously in condemnation of Eich's contribution to the Prop8 campaign). In that statement Mozilla also said:

We didn’t act like you’d expect Mozilla to act. We didn’t move fast enough to engage with people once the controversy started. We’re sorry. We must do better.

I think it likely that Mozilla exerted considerable behind-the-scenes pressure on Eich.

Anyway, beyond the specific context of employment, there's the broader question of economic retaliation for political opinions. OKCupid blocked Firefox users from its site because it didn't like Eich's years-ago contribution. Suppose some other site blocks a particular browser after that browser's company's CEO issues a scathing denunciation of a particular Senator. I'd feel some unease about that use of economic power, regardless of whether the Senator being denounced was Bernie Sanders or Ted Cruz.

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Marriott just fired an employee because she's a Democrat [View all] bondwooley Sep 2014 OP

workers do not have protection for political activity or even opinions. unblock Sep 2014 #1

I'll say bondwooley Sep 2014 #2

also DONATE to Viviana here --> nashville_brook Sep 2014 #43

The "At-will" doctrine does not apply in this instance ... 1StrongBlackMan Sep 2014 #5

Would a 1st amendment argument even make sense though as doesnt that apply to the government cstanleytech Sep 2014 #24

The AT-Will Doctrine ... 1StrongBlackMan Sep 2014 #32

Correct- a non-government entity has no 'first amendment' obligations. X_Digger Sep 2014 #56

Only if she had a contract. Tommy_Carcetti Sep 2014 #34

Not exactly ... 1StrongBlackMan Sep 2014 #37

It is a conflict is interest, good for them 951-Riverside Sep 2014 #3

Really? bondwooley Sep 2014 #7

I think the poster was referring to "campaigning" as actually RUNNING, not just supporting hughee99 Sep 2014 #21

by and large, what people do outside of work on their own time is not the company's concern. unblock Sep 2014 #9

By your logic, Ray Rice should not have been fired by the Ravens for hitting his fiancee totodeinhere Sep 2014 #18

i know politics ain't beanbag, but it ain't felony assault either! unblock Sep 2014 #19

Good point strawberries Sep 2014 #60

Who did what first? Erich Bloodaxe BSN Sep 2014 #10

Exactly. nt scrubthedata Sep 2014 #13

Why not? ohnoyoudidnt Sep 2014 #48

you've neatly summarized your defense of fascism and corporate control over private lives whereisjustice Sep 2014 #66

This message was self-deleted by its author 1StrongBlackMan Sep 2014 #4

that poor person/corporation noiretextatique Sep 2014 #6

Putting yourself in a conflict of interest position will usually get you fired. badtoworse Sep 2014 #8

By that measure, any employee simply voting for a Democrat would also be a conflict of interest LanternWaste Sep 2014 #11

No, running for office and voting a secret ballot are two different things. totodeinhere Sep 2014 #16

Excellent point. nt bondwooley Sep 2014 #20

So you have a source for that info? thesquanderer Sep 2014 #23

What conflict does the act of voting cause? badtoworse Sep 2014 #17

+10000000 nashville_brook Sep 2014 #42

Voting and campaigning for office are totally different SoCalDem Sep 2014 #73

Time for 24/7 hour pay? Trillo Sep 2014 #26

You think gollygee Sep 2014 #49

It depends. In general, I would say yes. badtoworse Sep 2014 #52

A rational, well-thought-out response. X_Digger Sep 2014 #57

Yeah I agree with those situations gollygee Sep 2014 #59

Why not? The fact that her employer is supporting her opponent is a conflict in and of itself. badtoworse Sep 2014 #61

It's the first part I disagree with hemost gollygee Sep 2014 #62

An internal auditor could be in a position to have confidential information about her opponent... badtoworse Sep 2014 #65

You're reaching gollygee Sep 2014 #67

I guess you've never worked in financial services badtoworse Sep 2014 #69

You could say that about anyone gollygee Sep 2014 #70

My experience is different and we'll just have to disagree badtoworse Sep 2014 #72

I think a financial services firm or a bank would be more likely to gollygee Sep 2014 #74

Everything you said is spot on scrubthedata Sep 2014 #75

Internal auditing investigates financial irregularities and non-compliance with company policies. badtoworse Sep 2014 #77

This is a really dumb move by Mariott Gothmog Sep 2014 #12

Ah, if only... valerief Sep 2014 #22

As well they should. Hubert Flottz Sep 2014 #30

Mozilla AngryAmish Sep 2014 #14

The average county commissioner scrubthedata Sep 2014 #15

This is a very interesting "purity" tactic. Trillo Sep 2014 #25

Well considering that I have three upcoming reservations with Marriott in the next 3 months Horse with no Name Sep 2014 #27

Lawsuit Iliyah Sep 2014 #28

Ha ha everyone should send her five bucks! TheNutcracker Sep 2014 #29

DONATE right here :) nashville_brook Sep 2014 #44

There are companies out there that have policies SheilaT Sep 2014 #31

Sounds legit Capt. Obvious Sep 2014 #33

So the time-share company prefers late term abortions? TexasTowelie Sep 2014 #40

I hope this helps Capt. Obvious Sep 2014 #41

Marriott just fired an employee because she's a Democrat The CCC Sep 2014 #35

K&R! Boycott Marriott. nt TeamPooka Sep 2014 #36

also DONATE a couple of bucks to Viviana if possible nashville_brook Sep 2014 #45

So Freedom Of Speech Is Now A "Conflict Of Interest" DallasNE Sep 2014 #38

Wow! Typical stupid move by Julie Meyers. Wellstone ruled Sep 2014 #39

marriott just fired an employee because she is a Democrat lydialmr Sep 2014 #46

Agreed fayhunter Sep 2014 #53

The "Mozilla" issue deserves more attention Jim Lane Sep 2014 #47

Brendan Eich resigned, he wasn't fired. LAGC Sep 2014 #76

It's not that clear-cut. Jim Lane Sep 2014 #78

This is why fayhunter Sep 2014 #50

Do you know which particular Marriott this is? tabbycat31 Sep 2014 #51

it's the Orlando Branch of the conglomerate, from what I can gather. nt fayhunter Sep 2014 #54

Screw Marriott scrubthedata Sep 2014 #55

Republicans have zero sense of ethics. Enthusiast Sep 2014 #58

This wouldn't be an issue scrubthedata Sep 2014 #63

Why is MVW so invested in a County Commission race that they would fire someone over it? stevenleser Sep 2014 #64

And we all know who's on Marriott's board, don't we? KamaAina Sep 2014 #68

Every employer I have ever worked for required ethics disclosures Ruby the Liberal Sep 2014 #71