Keith Olbermann: I was blackmailed by Fox Sports

[babsbunny]

Keith Olbermann: I was blackmailed by Fox Sports

http://www.rawstory.com/rawreplay/2011/07/keith-olbermann-i-was-blackmailed-by-fox-sports/

Posted on 07.12.11
By Eric W. Dolan
Categories: Biz/Money, Featured

On Countdown Tuesday night, Keith Olbermann gave an “inside look” at News Corporation, explaining how his bosses blackmailed him when he worked for Fox Sports.

Olbermann worked as a sports anchor for Fox Sports Net from 1998 to 2001 and was fired after reporting that Murdoch was planning to sell the Los Angeles Dodgers.

On his show Tuesday, he said that while working at Fox Sports he became sick and was advised by his doctor to slow down at work. When he requested to work five days instead of six, Fox Sports immediately pulled him off the air until he received a letter from his doctor guaranteeing he was well enough to work.

They then offered to either have Olbermann work a very busy schedule or receive a 60 percent pay cut.

“Instead of anchoring six days a week in the Los Angeles studio, they were going to have me anchor four days and then fly to and from different interviews, events, and promotions, etc. in other cities two different times per week,” he explained. “In short, they were threatening to work me into illness or into the hospital or both.”

“They were blackmailing me about my health, and Fox blackmail works,” he added. “And that’s the way it works. Lord only knows, if it works so well against someone with resources and a high profile like mine, how often was it used against lesser figures in the company?”

Watch video below:

[Ian David]

1. That sounds less like blackmail and more like constructive discharge.

Constructive Discharge
Being forced to quit a job

Sometimes a resignation is not really voluntary choice. Sometimes we are forced to quit jobs due to mistreatment. Was our resignation really a “firing without good cause” through being “forced to quit”?

On June 14, 2004 the United States Supreme Court issued a landmark decision setting some new standards for the law of “Constructive Discharge” in Federal Title VII Employment Discrimination cases. The Supreme Court Case is available on the web: Pennsylvania State Police v. Nancy Drew Suders (USSC 6/14/04). —- I don’t know whether you can grasp the importance of this case, as a layman, but the case will percolate throughout the courts over time.

“Constructive Discharge” is a legal term meaning that you actually quit your job, but if you meet certain standards then the legal system might treat your resignation as if you were actually fired without good cause. Being fired without good cause is an Adverse Employment Action required by many laws before you have a case, but a truly voluntary quit is not.

Persons who voluntarily quit might not have strong legal rights, but persons who are “constructively discharged” might have strong legal rights in some circumstances. But be very very careful before you say “I quit” - get legal advice first.

More:
http://www.timslaw.com/constructive-discharge.htm

[Ninga]

2. Spot on advice! n/t

[KharmaTrain]

4. Keith's Situation Was in 2001...

...thus not sure if that 2004 ruling would apply to him.

That said, this is not an unusual tactic in the media world. Media consolidation has made this type of blackmail and/or blackballing very common as if its revealed an employee has any type of medical condition, a future employer will think twice about hiring them. If he refused to take the changes in assignment he would be in breach of his contract and spend years fighting in court through delays to see a dime and probably again have troubles finding any future employment in his field. Remember, this was also at a time when KO was a big name sportscaster...he had gone back and taken the Fox offer cause he had burned out at MSNBC and doing news (that would change). His options were limited other than going back to doing 5,6 & 11 at some local TV station.

These are some of the games the corporates can and do play...and despite the case you cite above, this doesn't really cover the quiet blackmail and collusion that goes in in this and other industries.

Cheers...

[leveymg]

5. Doubt if Keith was within a recognizable Title VII discriminated "class" who might sue on those

grounds. Does "constructive discharge" has general applicability?

He might have had a better case against MSNBC, but he took the separation package. Just saying . . .

Blackmail? Well, working for a nasty, hideous employer like Murdoch one would have to be under compulsion of some kind.

[lunatica]

3. The Republicans salivate copiously at the prospect of having that power

This is not something we see happen every single day in our own lives.

[Dreamer Tatum]

6. That isn't blackmail.

And how much did he make a year?

I know KO is the most sacred of all cows, but it sounds like he was being asked to work hard. Boo hoo.

[gkhouston]

8. His salary isn't relevant, and he wasn't being asked to "work hard".

His employer, already having a letter from a doctor stating that KO needed to cut back on his 6 day a week schedule for health reasons, instead ramped up his activity. Travel is very tough when you have a chronic illness, and so is a variation in routine. If his salary were important, Fox could have negotiated a salary reduction for a schedule cutback. I suspect KO wouldn't have complained.

[Flubadubya]

9. Your explanation is certainly as I understood Keith to say it last night...

I would just advise you as to the likely futility of attempting to elucidate the matter to those with predisposed predilections to spontaneous liberal bashing. :eyes:

[gkhouston]

10. Hee. n/t

[Dreamer Tatum]

14. Oooooh, big words.

:eyes:

Doesn't matter - it wasn't blackmail.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

16. Maybe not, but it was just as slimy. Don't you agree?

[Logical]

12. LOL......what a classy person you are! n-t

[JustAmused]

18. Bye

Great. Thanks for being obvious that I can easily add another ***** to my ignore list

[Maru Kitteh]

7. That isn't blackmail. It would be so helpful if he used the term correctly.

If he wishes to be credible.

[Bunny]

11. Exactly. It's NOT blackmail.

[dorkulon]

13. True. People often say blackmail when they mean coercion, which is what this was.

Perhaps mineralman should issue a lesson on the difference.

[Bunny]

15. .

:spray: :rofl:

[crazyjoe]

17. ok, lets all feel bad for the millionaire. boo f**kin hoo keith.

[JustAmused]

19. Bye Joe

No need to listen to posts by *****

[csziggy]

20. Video of Keith telling the story

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5VO7fxupGo&feature=player_embedded

3:30 is where the blackmail story starts.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

21. Chronic illness means that work can literally kill you.

I don't know what he had but I have a couple of chronic but not life threatening conditions.

I can't work 80 hours a week, or even 60 hours. I have to eat frequently, sleep more than four hours a night, and go to the bathroom frequently.

That would make me unemployable by the insane standards of Corporate America, because I have less energy than these maniacs.