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Breach of Prviacy for Juan Williams?
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Breach of Prviacy for Juan Williams?
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I'm curious about the firing of Juan Williams and how public it has gone. NPR's ombudsman said that the company handled the firing poorly, but then revealed information (on the NPR website) that would
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Breach of Prviacy for Juan Williams?

posted at 10/23/2010 3:41 AM EDT
Posts: 2
First: 3/24/2010
Last: 10/23/2010
I'm curious about the firing of Juan Williams and how public it has gone. NPR's ombudsman said that the company handled the firing poorly, but then revealed information (on the NPR website) that would normally remain in his personnel file and discussed with no one.

Is this allowed because he's a public figure? Or did NPR breach privacy? The article is here: http://www.npr.org/blogs/ombudsman/2010/10/21/130713285/npr-terminates-contract-with-juan-williams

I'm interested in learning where the dividing line is for handling sensitive information when these incidents occur.
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Breach of Prviacy for Juan Williams?

posted at 10/25/2010 4:13 PM EDT
Posts: 2146
First: 2/15/2006
Last: 9/14/2011
Unless his contract had a specific confidentiality clause that was broken, I don't see where PRIVACY comes into the issue. Slander/defamation could if it were proven that what was stated was untrue. I am sure Mr Williams has plenty of legal counsel to advise him.

Employers are allowed to state the truth. Heck, they could post it on a billboard on a freeway if they wanted to. Almost no employee information is confidential except information covered under HIPAA, ADA and sometimes FMLA. (There may be some state laws that give more protection, but not federally.)

Then again, I have not read anything they have posted. I pretty much refuse to give them another hit on their website.

While I like Mr Williams, this is one more example where what is said and done outside of the workplace can have consequences inside the workplace. He is a personality that did represent NPR, so statements he made affected them. Honestly, I am surprised his employment with NPR ever allowed him to be a consultant/commentator/visiting guest on FOX. I am sure he was always walking a tightrope...and he made the mistake of giving a personal opinion that went against the viewpoint of NPR. I am sure there are a lot of employees who have lost jobs over things like this. Where they stated something that management disagreed with...

I think there are few states that protect personal activity/speech outside of the workplace (Colorado is one I believe)....and beyond that, it would depend on whatever employment contract he had with NPR. If they broke that, then he has legal recourse. Otherwise, "at will" it is.

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