If someone is fired for looking at porn at work...

[Susan]

My BIL was just fired for looking at porn at work. Dumb. Anyway, that's not the question. I'm sitting here trying to figure out what he should say at his interviews as he's job hunting. Do you come out and say "well, let me tell you why I was fired..." Or do you say something fluffy like "a disagreement with my boss", or what?

What would you do? What would you do if you were interviewing someone you thought was terrific and they told you that? Man, what a position he's put himself in. Ugly.

[JustJen]

Honestly, I wouldn't hire them. Not a chance. Not ever.
I wouldn't want someone who would do that working anywhere that had computers.
You couldn't trust that they wouldn't get bored and go cruising.

By putting that on a computer at a workplace someone somehow finding it and being offended could open the workplace up to sexual descrimination lawsuits. (happend at my exhusbands computer programming company it made the business go under from the settlement)

I think maybe your brother's best bet is to look for employment somewhere that doesn't have or use computers.

[JennyB]

That's a tough one. The truth is going to hurt him but lying could be even worse. If there is a question on the application that says, "Have you ever been dismissed or allowed to resign for cause?" they will always have a way to fire him for lying on his application if they found out. If he wants to be honest I think the best answer is to tell the truth and just say that he was fired for improper internet usage. That somewhat leaves it open.....I could technically be fired for being on this board all of the time at work. It leaves it open a bit but is still the truth.

[Mrs.Greevy]

Well I don't think they can ask why you were fired can they?

If he needs to tell them I would say something generic, like personal use of the computer...

[Melissa]

If he needs to tell them I would say something generic, like personal use of the computer...
This is exactly what I would say.

[Clare]

Well I don't think they can ask why you were fired can they?



But that's why they take references. Is his ex-boss going to protect him and tell potential employers that he's a great guy but they just didn't get on :dunno:

I think he's in a really crappy position. :dunno:

[Karri]

If I was fired for surfing porn at work, I certainly would NOT disclose that to any potential employers!!!!
Let me ask you this: is the state is he lives in an at-will employment state? If it is, then he could be let go for any stinkin' reason, so there is no reason to go into it.

Frankly, when I was recruiting people, I didnt like the long stories I got when people got into why they were fired. Just say you were let go due to violating company policy and leave it at that, *if* they ask. I always felt like people w/ stories were making up excuses and whatnot.

[Melissa]

He could also say, "I violated the company internet policy." If he isn't asked anything further, it really could be as benign as checking Ebay or OUAL while on company time, not necessarily meaning he was checking porn.

[Barb]

I don't think he is under any obligation to say why he was fired. And, if I'm not mistaken, his former employer cannot disclose why he was fired. All they can say is whether or not he was employed there. I would think the generic "personal computer use" would be fine.

[JennyB]

I am recruiter and work in at-will state. The employer has every right to ask why he left the company. He can give an excuse but I would be willing to bet money the application asks if has ever been dismissed.

Also, when you sign most applications you are giving the company authorization to look into your background. There is a whole lot of verbage there but to paraphrase it, it basically gives your former employers the right to disclose information about your work performance, etc. With that said, most employers usually cover their asses and will only disclose dates of employment and position held. However, there are a few companies that will disclose anything you ask for with written authorization.

I just had two cases this week. I had a reference check come back on a candidate and they stated that her attendance and punctuality were unsatisfactory upon separation. Ummm..........no thanks. We also fired someone on Friday for not disclosing that she had been allowed to resign for cause.

My point is that whatever he does, he shouldn't lie about it. I would be as vague as possible (personal use of computer) in the beginning and hope that they let it go at that.

[Barb]

Also, when you sign most applications you are giving the company authorization to look into your background. There is a whole lot of verbage there but to paraphrase it, it basically gives your former employers the right to disclose information about your work performance, etc. With that said, most employers usually cover their asses and will only disclose dates of employment and position held. However, there are a few companies that will disclose anything you ask for with written authorization.


I guess that's why I thought they couldn't disclose anything except to confirm employment. Thanks. :)

[Karri]

Most employers have policies that they will only verify dates of employment, position, maybe pay, and possibly whether or not the separation was voluntary or not. While I was working, 99.9% of the time, that was all the information I could get.

I am not saying lie about it. I am just saying there is no need to state the details.

[Colleen]

Most employers have policies that they will only verify dates of employment, position, maybe pay, and possibly whether or not the separation was voluntary or not. While I was working, 99.9% of the time, that was all the information I could get.

I am not saying lie about it. I am just saying there is no need to state the details.

I agree with Karri. When I was in HR, all we would verify was dates of employement, position held, and whether it was a voluntary or involuntary separation.

I would simply state that he was fired for "violating the company internet policy" and leave it at that.

At my one company, we did full background checks, which authorized us to get extra details and info from former employers. The prospective employee had to authorize the background check. If they didn't, then we wouldn't consider them for employment.

The bottom line is that he shouldn't lie, because that'll only come back to hurt him.