jeopardizing job with a bumper sticker?

scarredgod · 08-28-07, 01:21 AM

maybe someone could help me with this question.

I work at walmart and i am very interested in putting a couple bumper stickers on my car that says F*CK WAL*MART and I was wondering if I could get in trouble for that at work. It seems like I would have the freedom to do that but I dont know for sure.

does anyone know for sure? thanks!

Numanoid · 08-28-07, 01:32 AM

Yes, you can get in trouble (probably fired). No, you don't have the freedom to do that. I'm willing to bet that you haven't really read your employee handbook very well, have you?

And why do you work for a place you hate to that extent? That's pathetic, dude.

DeputyDave · 08-28-07, 01:32 AM

Quiting would send a better message.

I worked there for six months as a Department Manager when they opened a new store 12 or 13 years ago (we opened on Black Friday, that was a mess). I quit the day they informed me of my 10 cent an hour raise. I actually laughed in the store manager's face and droped my smock on the floor as I walked off.
I hold no hard feelings though, and actually shop at Wal-Mart once a week. If people are willing to work there for low wages so I can shop for cheap, then so be it. If not, quit and get a better job. I did.

Rockmjd23 · 08-28-07, 01:32 AM

If they found out you'll probably get fired, but the better question is if you hate walmart then why work there?

When I worked for Best Buy, I left Bestbuysux.org website open on one of the computers there by accident and surprisingly they didn't fire me for it.

Edit: Be prepared for the inundation of "retail sucks, get a real job" posts from people who probably don't make more money than you.

Josh-da-man · 08-28-07, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scarredgod

maybe someone could help me with this question.

I work at walmart and i am very interested in putting a couple bumper stickers on my car that says F*CK WAL*MART and I was wondering if I could get in trouble for that at work. It seems like I would have the freedom to do that but I dont know for sure.

does anyone know for sure? thanks!

If it's the car you drive to work and park in the employee parking area, then the answer is probably "yes."

DeputyDave · 08-28-07, 02:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josh-da-man

If it's the car you drive to work and park in the employee parking area, then the answer is probably "yes."

Unless things have changed they don't have a lot they just have to park on the far side of the public lot.

fmian · 08-28-07, 06:58 AM

Most employee contracts stipulate that you can't do something that might be a detriment to your employer.
If they can determine that Walmart loses business because of your bumper sticker, they can probably sue you too. Regardless of whether you work there or not. That's how it is in Australia anyway.
I work in retail and I know that if I ever said something bad about my workplace on the internet, and head office found out, I'd get fired.

Venusian · 08-28-07, 07:02 AM

who still puts bumper stickers on their car?

al_bundy · 08-28-07, 07:04 AM

new yorkers who hate bush and cheney

starman9000 · 08-28-07, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by al_bundy

new yorkers who hate bush and cheney

Around here it's NRA members and hippies. But mostly anyone who needs to keep their bumper from falling off.

Brian Shannon · 08-28-07, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Venusian

who still puts bumper stickers on their car?

Really, bumper stickers are lame.

I think you should put them on your blue apron

Mrs. Danger · 08-28-07, 07:38 AM

Just start greeting customers with, "Welcome to Wal-Mart... sucker!" That would be more efficient.

DarthVong · 08-28-07, 08:00 AM

Get a I <3 K-Mart bumper sticker instead

Minor Threat · 08-28-07, 08:19 AM

Thanks for putting something on your car I get to try and explain to my seven year old son who reads everything and anything he sees. I just don't think that displaying blatant profanity on your car for everyone else to read is "cool".....

bauermj · 08-28-07, 08:32 AM

I would think a more meaningful stance would be quitting employment for their corporate wheel.

lotsofdvds · 08-28-07, 08:34 AM

If you can get fired for blogging about how much you hate your job, then yes, you can get fired for saying it in a bumper sticker.

nemein · 08-28-07, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minor Threat

Thanks for putting something on your car I get to try and explain to my seven year old son who reads everything and anything he sees. I just don't think that displaying blatant profanity on your car for everyone else to read is "cool".....

That brings up another point in that the OP should check local/state laws to make sure they won't get in trouble. I knew someone w/ a WV that had FUKNGRVN (or something like that) written on his car who went to SC one time. When he came back he had a piece of cardboard (on which he wrote "censored") taped over it that a state trooper made him put on there.

Tracer Bullet · 08-28-07, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by al_bundy

new yorkers who hate bush and cheney

And Bloomberg.

Toad · 08-28-07, 08:47 AM

Likely you're an at-will employee, meaning they can terminate you as long as the termination is not based solely on race, national origin, or gender.

People have been fired for less, so proceed at your own risk.

[P.S. If you really hate your employer, a better solution may be to quit and find a job you like.]

NCMojo · 08-28-07, 09:29 AM

Good article here.

The author makes the (excellent) point that the First Ammendment simply defines the limitations of the government, or the public sector, in restraining free speech. It does not address at all the private sector, who are only bound by specific anti-discrimination labor law. When you add that into the "at-will work" statutes found in most states... you can (and probably will) be fired for putting that bumper sticker on your car, and there really isn't a damn thing you can do about it.

It is your right to put that bumper sticker on your car. But free speech isn't free. You have to be willing to pay the price.

Seantn · 08-28-07, 09:34 AM

Quote:

And why do you work for a place you hate to that extent? That's pathetic, dude.

Agreed, although i'm guessing maybe you're just doing it so your co-workers will think you're cool - But still. If you hate Wal-Mart, just quit. It's sad to see people just settle for something that makes them so miserable.

lotsofdvds · 08-28-07, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NCMojo

When you add that into the "at-will work" statutes found in most states... you can (and probably will) be fired for putting that bumper sticker on your car, and there really isn't a damn thing you can do about it.

It is your right to put that bumper sticker on your car. But free speech isn't free. You have to be willing to pay the price.

Yep. Employment isn't a right. Getting fired for being an ass is perfectly justified.

GoVegan · 08-28-07, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lotsofdvds

Yep. Employment isn't a right. Getting fired for being an ass is perfectly justified.

Ain't you heard of the Declaration of Independence? Free speech and all that.

McHawkson · 08-28-07, 10:15 AM

I work at Parts Plus warehouse and I wore Pep Boy and Auto Zone t-shirts, they didn't fire me.

Vibiana · 08-28-07, 10:22 AM

"If you work for a man, in heaven's name, work for him. Speak well of him and stand by the institution he represents. Remember an ounce of loyalty is worth a pound of cleverness. If you must growl, condemn, and eternally find fault, why -- resign your position, and when you are on the outside, damn to your heart's content. But as long as you are part of this institution, do not condemn it. If you do, the first high wind that comes along will blow you away, and probably you will never know why."

--Elbert Hubbard

08-28-07, 01:21 AM	#1
scarredgod DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,190	jeopardizing job with a bumper sticker? maybe someone could help me with this question. I work at walmart and i am very interested in putting a couple bumper stickers on my car that says FCK WALMART and I was wondering if I could get in trouble for that at work. It seems like I would have the freedom to do that but I dont know for sure. does anyone know for sure? thanks! __________________ "Chang Chung. Tarantino has already decided he's the next guy he's going to steal from." Ari from Entourage my dvd collection

08-28-07, 01:32 AM	#3
DeputyDave DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 12,556	Quiting would send a better message. I worked there for six months as a Department Manager when they opened a new store 12 or 13 years ago (we opened on Black Friday, that was a mess). I quit the day they informed me of my 10 cent an hour raise. I actually laughed in the store manager's face and droped my smock on the floor as I walked off. I hold no hard feelings though, and actually shop at Wal-Mart once a week. If people are willing to work there for low wages so I can shop for cheap, then so be it. If not, quit and get a better job. I did. __________________ DVDSpot, RIP

08-28-07, 01:32 AM	#4
Rockmjd23 DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: MA Posts: 17,241	If they found out you'll probably get fired, but the better question is if you hate walmart then why work there? When I worked for Best Buy, I left Bestbuysux.org website open on one of the computers there by accident and surprisingly they didn't fire me for it. Edit: Be prepared for the inundation of "retail sucks, get a real job" posts from people who probably don't make more money than you. Last edited by Rockmjd23; 08-28-07 at 01:38 AM.

08-28-07, 06:58 AM	#7
fmian DVD Talk Gold Edition Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 2,423	Most employee contracts stipulate that you can't do something that might be a detriment to your employer. If they can determine that Walmart loses business because of your bumper sticker, they can probably sue you too. Regardless of whether you work there or not. That's how it is in Australia anyway. I work in retail and I know that if I ever said something bad about my workplace on the internet, and head office found out, I'd get fired. __________________ Swiss Woman: "You killed him!" Herbert West: "No I did not. I gave him life." My Flickr Page

08-28-07, 08:00 AM	#13
DarthVong DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Under your bed Posts: 5,662	Get a I <3 K-Mart bumper sticker instead __________________ PSN: DARTHVONG XBOX: The Darthvong

08-28-07, 01:32 AM	#2
Numanoid DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Down in 'The Park' Posts: 26,985	Yes, you can get in trouble (probably fired). No, you don't have the freedom to do that. I'm willing to bet that you haven't really read your employee handbook very well, have you? And why do you work for a place you hate to that extent? That's pathetic, dude.

08-28-07, 07:02 AM	#8
Venusian Moderator Join Date: Nov 1999 Posts: 36,943	who still puts bumper stickers on their car?

08-28-07, 07:04 AM	#9
al_bundy DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: in da cloud Posts: 26,196	new yorkers who hate bush and cheney

08-28-07, 07:38 AM	#12
Mrs. Danger Suspended Join Date: May 2005 Location: With Nick Danger Posts: 15,192	Just start greeting customers with, "Welcome to Wal-Mart... sucker!" That would be more efficient.

08-28-07, 08:19 AM	#14
Minor Threat DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: - Flex your head - Posts: 13,580	Thanks for putting something on your car I get to try and explain to my seven year old son who reads everything and anything he sees. I just don't think that displaying blatant profanity on your car for everyone else to read is "cool"..... __________________ "I think they go by username, so you're probably not a very high priority at the moment." - dork "Kansas chokes every year. I don't see why this year will be any different. Go Davidson." - Michael Corvin - Kansas University 2008 National Champions!!!!!

08-28-07, 08:32 AM	#15
bauermj Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 469	I would think a more meaningful stance would be quitting employment for their corporate wheel.

08-28-07, 08:34 AM	#16
lotsofdvds Suspended Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 4,790	If you can get fired for blogging about how much you hate your job, then yes, you can get fired for saying it in a bumper sticker.

08-28-07, 08:47 AM	#19
Toad DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Surrounded by idiots... Posts: 6,991	Likely you're an at-will employee, meaning they can terminate you as long as the termination is not based solely on race, national origin, or gender. People have been fired for less, so proceed at your own risk. [P.S. If you really hate your employer, a better solution may be to quit and find a job you like.]

08-28-07, 09:29 AM	#20
NCMojo DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 14,172	Good article here. The author makes the (excellent) point that the First Ammendment simply defines the limitations of the government, or the public sector, in restraining free speech. It does not address at all the private sector, who are only bound by specific anti-discrimination labor law. When you add that into the "at-will work" statutes found in most states... you can (and probably will) be fired for putting that bumper sticker on your car, and there really isn't a damn thing you can do about it. It is your right to put that bumper sticker on your car. But free speech isn't free. You have to be willing to pay the price. __________________ Sometimes the light's all shinin' on me; other times I can barely see. The Official Cabinet

08-28-07, 10:15 AM	#24
McHawkson DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: America Empire Posts: 13,902	I work at Parts Plus warehouse and I wore Pep Boy and Auto Zone t-shirts, they didn't fire me. __________________ Is that the best you can do, you pansies? - Marv in Sin City Croc RULE!

08-28-07, 10:22 AM	#25
Vibiana DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Living in a van down by the river Posts: 10,936	"If you work for a man, in heaven's name, work for him. Speak well of him and stand by the institution he represents. Remember an ounce of loyalty is worth a pound of cleverness. If you must growl, condemn, and eternally find fault, why -- resign your position, and when you are on the outside, damn to your heart's content. But as long as you are part of this institution, do not condemn it. If you do, the first high wind that comes along will blow you away, and probably you will never know why." --Elbert Hubbard __________________ Vibiana hooks up with chicks, she's more of a winner than most of the internet. -- mndtrp "If everyone you know is doing it, the only thing to do is rush into a marriage. It'll turn out great so don't worry about it." -- Jules Winfield