Employment and Labor Lawyer Ryan Allen Hancock Talks Charlie Kirk-Related Firings with Axios

The killing of Charlie Kirk has sparked heated discussions on social media that is causing ramifications in real life. Some employees are facing disciplinary actions at work for expressing personal opinions online and outside of work that do not align with their employers’ views. Public and private sector workers have been fired for posting their personal opinions on the matter.

While the recent spate of firings in response to social media posts may be legal, it signifies a changing attitude to norms around free speech, or lack thereof, among employers.

Willig, Williams & Davidson partner Ryan A. Hancock discussed this trend in an article in Axios. He noted there is a long history of employers firing workers for social media posts or speech in the past. “Lots of people have been terminated for their positions, their political positions, and speech,” he said.

He added that private employers usually have all the power in these situations. Just because an employer has the power does not make the termination lawful. The legality of these firings depends on whether workers challenge them in court and what state protections may apply or if the employer is a public employer.

Read the full article online: What’s different about the Charlie Kirk firings